Fishing trips can be fun. Fishing competitions? I really don’t see the point. The entire thing about fishing is that you have to relax, go with the flow and not work all that hard unless you’re reeling in a shark. I try not to reel in sharks, so that leaves my fishing trips pretty chill.
So why did I let Pete talk me into Victoria’s largest fishing competition? Guess he works pretty high up in sales, so he can talk anyone into anything, really. Still, can’t believe I’m sacrificing a weekend of good, private fishing for some mass event where everyone is an expert in installing bait boards and nothing less than a two-metre whopper will count for anything. Most of the ones I catch are tiddlers that have to be thrown back, and you know what? I’m okay with that.
Heck, I don’t even OWN a boat; I wouldn’t be able to get myself into this competition at all if Pete wasn’t teaming up with me. He’s got the latest bit of equipment, of course…he actually takes fishing pretty seriously, unlike me. Got all the trophies, got the shiny boat, all the fishing buddies who all seem to have the same name. Like, you would not BELIEVE how many people who like fishing are called Jim. It’s got to be at least 50% of the fishing community. Pete is always going fishing with some guy called Jim, and if he’s not available then it’s the other Jim, or Jim’s friend Jim.
So I guess the guys who sell snapper racks have a solid system upon which to base their sales strategy. A guy comes into your shop looking for plate alloy boats, and his name is Jim? He probably needs your plate alloy boat best suited for fishing.
That’s my entire Saturday now: hanging out in a bunch of boats with really competitive people. And most of them are called Jim.
-Tim