Fishing is an amazing pastime and this has generated a huge interest and following internationally as is evident by the growing fishing gear market.
It is no surprise that fishing is among the most preferred hobbies on the planet. In the U.S. alone, the interest in fishing seems to be insatiable, and estimates put it that around 12 million people acquire fishing licenses every year.
According to a new study by the ASA (American Sportfishing Association), despite the recent recession, the fishing industry grew five percent. The same study suggests that fishing supports more than 828,000 jobs, and it has an annual economic impact of $115 billion.
Include all the seafood restaurants and food, and you begin to realize how big the market for fishing is really.
This sport is so popular that it’s even integrated into many videos and online games, not to mention in some virtual world style games like World of Warcraft and RuneScape; fishing is a way to make money.
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But there is a great imbalance in the expenses incurred in enjoying this favorite hobby. Figures indicate that for every dollar you spend on a fishing license, you probably spent sixteen dollars on equipment, ranging from fishing tackle to food, clothing, and transportation.
Some venture that fishing is perhaps the most expensive hobby around. Naturally, this leads to people wanting to find out more information about this particular activity.
Some people have this misconception that a boat is the only investment for you to get all your catches, but extra earnings can come in other ways as well.
What will I learn?
Catch More Than Fish: Make Money Fishing Like a Pro
Here are a few ways you can make money fishing besides the usual fishing jobs:
1. Offer fishing charters or guided fishing trips
There are tons of people doing this in states like Florida. Organize trips to get people out fishing. Some people would prefer fish on the water instead of onshore.
Obviously, you would charge a fee for such service, but make sure your boat is well equipped with bait, tackle, and fishing lines, and don’t forget the life jackets!
2. Run a fishing camp
A fishing camp could be an excellent idea during the fishing season. You can tailor trips that cater to adults, children, or families, or simply a mixed bag crowd. In fact, you can conduct such camps all year long if there are sufficient facilities to ice fish. Better still, cook all the catches.
Conduct cooking classes as well as lure making and fly tying. You could show the kids how you make fishing rods from non-descript sticks. During the rainy season, organize trips for some serious night crawler spotting.
3. Make & sell fishing lures
Making fishing lures for money is a great side hustle.
For presentation, bait should be filled inside a container with dirt and nightcrawlers, and of course a little water. To keep bait alive, make sure the temperature is cool enough. Make and sell your own fishing lures and flies.
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Fishing poles made of wood are not too bad an idea as well, and remember to make smaller ones to cater to the kids’ market.
Consistent with our online lifestyle, make sure you create a website for this, and old-fashioned fliers and business cards won’t hurt either.
4. Teach people how to fish
You can always make money teaching your skills and expertise to others. If you can, get involved in public education programs on all things about fishing. Get them out and demonstrate the preparation of the fishing poles, the right way to cast a net, and what circumstances you should let go of a fish, or not.
Show how the fish scale can be removed and how to gut the fish the right way. Show what sorts of cooking are possible. In short, get them to experience all of these.
5. Become a pro Fisherman
Being a pro fisherman is exciting, and you get paid to fish. However, your chances of getting there are very slim. Not to mention it takes a lot of time and commitment.
Look at life stories of some of the Bassmaster Classic contenders and you’ll see what I mean. Many of them spent years participating in small tournaments, perfecting their skill on catching bass by learning their habits.
That said, if you have the commitment and don’t mind spending eight hours on a freezing cold day in a bass boat, the potential to make decent money is there.
6. Blog about fishing
Blogs about hobbies are very popular, and fishing is no exception. You could start a blog about fishing like this one, sharing your experience, thoughts, and techniques with your readers. You could blog about anything related to this hobby.
Once your blog starts to receive some decent traffic, you could monetize it in many ways, from selling ad space to selling fishing products as an affiliate to creating and selling eBooks and more.
For example, you could write an eBook on how to find good fishing spots where you share your tips and techniques on how to do it.
7. Sell fishing-related merchandise
Create and sell fishing-themed apparel, accessories, decals, or other merchandise targeting fishing enthusiasts.
8. Provide fishing photography or videography services
If you have photography or videography skills, you can offer your services to capture memorable moments of fishing trips or create promotional content for fishing-related businesses.
9. Write and publish fishing books or ebooks
Share your knowledge, fishing experiences, or fishing tips and techniques by writing books or ebooks focused on fishing. You can self-publish or seek publishing opportunities.
10. Develop and sell fishing-related mobile apps or software
If you have programming skills, you can create fishing-related mobile apps or software, such as fishing log apps, fish identification apps, or weather forecasting tools tailored for anglers.
11. Organize fishing tournaments or events
Plan and host fishing tournaments, competitions, or charity events that bring together anglers and fishing enthusiasts. You can generate revenue through participant fees, sponsorships, or ticket sales.
12. Create and sell fishing-related online courses or instructional videos
Share your expertise by creating online courses or instructional videos covering various aspects of fishing, such as fishing techniques, knot tying, fish species identification, or tackle maintenance.
13. Offer fishing-related services
Provide services like fish cleaning, boat cleaning and maintenance, fishing rod repair, or fish taxidermy.
14. Make money as a fishing influencer
Establish partnerships or collaborations with fishing brands, gear manufacturers, or outdoor companies to promote their products or services through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, or brand ambassadorship.
15. Breed tropical fish for aquariums
Dive into the colorful world of tropical fish breeding and supply hobbyists with unique and vibrant species for their aquariums.
16. Start a fishing YouTube channel
Cast your knowledge and fishing adventures to a global audience by creating engaging videos, sharing tips, and showcasing your fishing skills.
17. Start a deep-sea sports fishing business
Set sail and offer thrilling deep-sea fishing experiences to avid anglers, taking them on unforgettable fishing expeditions in search of big game fish.
18. Clear fish from lakes
Help maintain ecological balance in lakes by providing fish removal services, addressing overpopulation issues and restoring the health of aquatic ecosystems.
19. Tie fishing flies for profit
Combine creativity and craftsmanship by handcrafting intricate and effective fishing flies, catering to fly anglers’ preferences and selling your unique creations.
20. Become a fishing teacher or public speaker
Share your passion and expertise by offering fishing lessons, workshops, or presentations, inspiring others and imparting valuable fishing knowledge.
21. Become a bass fishing guide
Utilize your in-depth knowledge of bass fishing techniques and local hotspots to guide enthusiasts in their pursuit of landing trophy bass.
22. Enter fishing contests to win prizes
Test your skills and compete in fishing tournaments or contests, aiming for victory and the chance to earn valuable prizes and recognition.
23. Breed fish for farmers
Help fish farmers meet the demand for commercial fish species by breeding and supplying juvenile fish, supporting aquaculture operations and food production.
Obviously, not everybody can start a deep-sea sports fishing business, but the idea here was to give you a list of the kind of fishing related gigs and side hustles you can start to make money.
Tip
Of course, you need to get all relevant licenses before you can embark on this adventure. There are fees involved, and you need to be aware of related regulations. Keep a logbook on money spent and earned.
If a fishing business really interests you and you want to get started, check out Small Business Administration’s website for instructions on how to plan your promising and upcoming business.
Turn Your Love for Fishing into Cash!
What do you think?
Do you fish, and if so, do you make money from it or is it just a hobby for you?
Can you think of any other ways you could earn extra money as a fisherman?
You seriously need a copy editor to review your work before it is posted. It’s PASTIME not pass time and the bass fishing championship is the Bassmaster Classic not Bass Master’s Classic, however at one time it was called the Bassmasters Classic so I guess a little confusion is understandable.
Sorry for the typos, Joe, and thanks for the heads up. Fixed!
I’m looking for Bass fishing guides on my area who would be interested in purchasing the prey fish (perch) I catch to use as bait. There are a lot of striper guides in my area and it’s a larger bait than shad I haven’t implemented this idea yet but I was expecting it to be on your list
That’s actually a great idea for an eBook, Mike. If you are familiar and know a lot about it, you could make some money yourself by self publishing a Kindle book on the topic.
great points u got here.
recently i started to use sites like koocam, and i definitely will perform some of those tips
thank u, very nice article.