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Fishing is the perfect sport: let me explain why

by Aidan Bordiuk |

Updated on27th October 2025 at 4.48pm

I often get asked the question, what is about fishing that you like so much and why are you so obsessed with it? I know I won't be the only angler to get this question from those who don't partake in the sport, and often it is an incredibly difficult question to answer.

For many, fishing has always been there, with a lot of anglers introduced via parents or grandparents who enjoyed a day on the bank. There are also those who get into fishing completely on their own too, with nobody in their immediate family or friends going. Having done a lot of coaching through various schools and with the public on fisheries in the past, I have always been of the belief that fishing isn't necessarily something that people learn to like.

fishing can treat you to the most spectacular experiences

For myself, my dad, who has never fished a day in his life, decided to buy a small travel set from Argos to take on holiday. We went one evening and that telescopic rod never left my hand for the duration of that trip, despite not getting a single bite, and since that day I have been hooked.

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, with some deciding it isn't for them before coming back to it in later life, but for many, you know from the first cast if angling is for you. That is what makes it so hard to explain to those when asked what is specifically that you like about it.

I think I speak for the majority of anglers when I say there is no one thing in particular, and fishing can mean something completely different from one session to the next. Sometimes it is a stress relief and you don't mind if you blank or not, other times you are actively hunting a certain fish and won't stop until it is in your photo album. For others, the social or competitive aspect, is the best thing about fishing to them.

It doesn't matter what you want to catch

I said I would explain what makes fishing the best sport in the world and this is exactly what I intend to do. Unlike any other pastime, anglers have the completely unique opportunity to make fishing exactly what they want it to be, and the possibilities really are endless. Put simply, there is nothing else out there that offers people that prospect. Many other sports are very one dimensional, and while that is totally fine if you like that, fishing just can't ever get boring.

If you want to catch 300lb of carp, catch one big fish a year, spend all day beside the river in the hope of a barbel, go abroad for a week with friends, chase huge tuna and marlin from a boat, or go on a species hunt, you can do that. The chance of burnout is incredibly low, simply because you can always try a new discipline or take on a different challenge, keeping things fresh and exciting.

Coarse fishing, lure fishing, fly fishing, sea fishing the opportunities really are endless, and as many anglers will tell you, fishing is always there for you. Whether you have endless amounts of time at your disposal, or an hour a week, going through the best time of your life or the worst, you can go and make the most of it.

Whether you want to spend all night on the bank or a short session, you can!

The other remarkable thing about angling is the people it brings together, all sharing a common goal of catching fish. There are no other sports you where can be sat next to a world champion on one side and someone enjoying their first day on the bank the other.

Old, young, politically right, politically left, rich, poor, novice or professional, angling is the ultimate leveller. Even for those who struggle socially, somehow talking about fish with someone else who enjoys catching them creates an instant ice breaker, striking up friendly conversations between those who would never normally do so. This very often leads to the forging of the most unlikely of friendships being struck up from this wonderful pastime.

While it may seem from the outside looking in that fishing is a solitary sport, where you sit for hours to catch nothing but an old boot, it couldn't be further from the truth. With people becoming more reclusive in recent years, often with added stress and various forms of social media like Tik Tok and the like causing hours of doom scrolling, you don't realise what wonders are just outside your door. I can guarantee there will be somewhere local to you where you can go fishing, likely for free, without a waiting list or the need for endless coaching to enjoy it, you can simply buy some tackle, a rod licence and just get out in nature.

The sea is an instant stress reliever, fishing there is just a bonus!

Unlike some sports where you need the latest equipment to stand any chance of improving, fishing isn't like that. Yes, you can spend thousands of pounds on tackle, but you can also spend less than a hundred pounds and stand just as much chance of catching fish as anyone else and more importantly, enjoying yourself!

Angling is incredibly accessible, and regardless of your background, gender or ability, you can get out and enjoy it. The community, on the whole, is both welcoming and willing to educate and help those that are new to the sport or just want to improve. The best part of my job at the Angling Times and previous jobs in tackle shops and on fisheries in the past, is when people catch fish because of your help, there is simply nothing more rewarding than knowing you have improved another's enjoyment on the bank.

While some sports have to be given up as age gets the better of us, angling doesn't, and yes, while you might miss the odd bite as your reaction times dwindle or not be able to walk miles along the river or beach to your favourite spot, you can still get out and catch fish as well as you didn't in your youth.

I may be biased as my whole life revolves around angling, but I'm sure fellow anglers can agree that they couldn't imagine life without fishing in it. For those reading this that don't go, I hope I have got someway into explaining what it is that makes angling the single best sport out there, and if you haven't already, why not get out and give it a go!

What are you waiting for, get out there now!

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