Article by Capt. Mark Sampson
I don’t know too many fishermen who head out in the morning hoping they catch less or smaller fish than everyone else, even when we're not involved in a tournament. Anglers are a competitive lot and by nature want to be the "top-hook" on the dock on most - if not every day. I guess it’s just human nature that whenever a bunch of us set out on a similar quest that "we" want to be the ones who finish first, or with the most, or the biggest, or the best, or whatever signifies that our efforts and results were superior in some way to everyone else. If we can get acknowledgement and recognition for our accomplishment then that just makes the accomplishment so much sweeter!
Fishermen tend to have egos a mile long and tournaments have always been the perfect platforms to stroke those egos. They bring us together in the same place at the same time. They have us all fishing under the same rules so nobody can claim an unfair advantage. They also give us a stage under the spotlight of the press, the public and the other competitors where we can step up and be acknowledged and applauded for a single moment in time when skill and luck combined to put us in the winner’s circle.
For the longest time, it was bragging rights along with an engraved trophy or plaque that would be the biggest payouts for most tournaments. But when tournament sponsors started kicking in products to be given away, winning anglers began to also walk away with all kinds of tackle, equipment and sometimes even boats and cars!
Fears of cheating and other unethical practices stalled the concept of monetary prizes for a while, but gradually more and more tournaments started providing cash payouts for wins and as fishermen began to realize that a tournament victory could not only land their faces on the cover of local newspapers, but also put money in their bank accounts. They now had more incentive and justification than ever to enter the events. “Money” rather than “trophy” tournaments became the rage and have brought us to the present day when some tournaments offer competitors who catch the right fish on the right day, millions of dollars in cold hard cash.
The result of all this is that successful big money tournaments these days do so much more than just pat someone on the back for catching a big fish. Tournaments are major summertime events that can create jobs, excitement, publicity and entertainment in addition to pumping vast amounts of money into seaside economies. Big tournaments are big business spurred on by a lot of fishermen who just love to be a part of the show.
But "not" all of us.
After decades of both fishing and running tournaments, I for one eventually came to the realization that I no longer have any interest in competing in fishing tournaments. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that there’s anything wrong with tournaments or those who enjoy them. They just aren’t for me. I like to fish because I enjoy the process of fishing; the boats, the scenery, the challenges involved with getting a bait or lure in front of a fish and tempting it to bite, and helping others to catch a fish of their own. All of that is reward enough for me, and along the way if I cross paths with another fisherman, I want to be able to honestly wish them “good luck” without secretly hoping they won’t catch more or bigger fish than I do. The sport of fishing has given me a satisfying livelihood, a lifetime of incredible experiences and a lot of fine meals for my table. I’m just not quite sure how, why or where competition with other fishermen fits into that picture.
Of course, diversity is one of the greatest things about fishing. There are so many sizes and types of fish as well as places and ways to fish for them, and as fishermen we all have our likes and dislikes. Some prefer fishing from the beach more than from a boat, others like freshwater better than saltwater and some really like tournament fishing while some don’t. Over the years tournament fishing has morphed into something that’s so much different from what a lot of us remember from “back in the day,” so that no one should feel ashamed, un-American or like they’re letting the fishing community down if they’ve lost their enthusiasm for competitive fishing. It’s OK to conclude and even admit to the world that tournament fishing is no longer your cup of tea.
Whether they win or they lose, I'm hopeful that everyone involved with the big event this week has a safe and wonderful time on the water as they chase big fish for big bucks. And on those mornings when hundreds of boats are streaming out of the inlet in quest of fame and fortune, there will be at least a few of us who will watch them go past and “honestly” be able to wish them “good luck!”
Capt. Mark Sampson is an outdoor writer and captain of the charter boat, “Fish Finder”, docked at the Ocean City Fishing Center. During the winter months, Capt. Mark runs charters in the Lower Keys.
