jobs to deal with fishing

[Isaiah Hoag]

Hello, I'm a freshman in college and I love fishing. I want to find a major that is in the fishing industry or related to fishing but I'm not sure what categories are all out there. Anyone have any ideas or *** on where and what i should look into? 

[Lincoln]

Fisheries biologist?

[DropShotHotShot]

Al and Troy Linder just hosted a fishing career workshop in northern MN.  Look it up and review thier guest speaker list, that will show many of the career fields.   As far as majors goes, probably look at a path related to biology/ wildlife management  or marketing

[TOXIC]

Any of the water biologies, sports marketing, sales.  The problem is that "most" of the fishing related careers, you don't "fish".  You study them, you enforce the laws relating to them or you make, market or sell the equipment used to catch them.  Direct jobs like "professional fisherman" and "Fishing Guide" while directly related to fishing, are not what I would consider viable career paths (and I've been a guide).  

[TnRiver46]

I got my degree in wildlife/fisheries management. I do wildlife damage control for a living during the week and work as a fishing guide at a fancy resort in weekends. Like @WDE just said, all of my actual "fishing" is done when I'm off work. Even a fishing guide doesn't fish hardly at all while working, it's more like adult baby sitting 

[Deleted account]

6 hours ago, Isaiah Hoag said:

Hello, I'm a freshman in college and I love fishing. I want to find a major that is in the fishing industry or related to fishing but I'm not sure what categories are all out there. Anyone have any ideas or *** on where and what i should look into? 

If you want an education that will help you understand fish and potentially improve your fishing, then biology or a related field will do that. If you want to make a living fishing, then no degree required, just a boat, all the licensing and a disgruntled disposition is all that is required (along with the willingness to nudge up right to the edge of the law). If you want a career in a fishing related company, then all the fields involved in business are in play, ie marketing, business management, legal, IT, etc. Oh, and the guys I know that fish the most (like 150-250 days a year) work or worked on Wall Street.

[Ratherbfishing]

Probably the BEST thing you can do is forgo a direct "fishing job" and, instead, find a decent paying job that affords you the resources, location, and the time to fish frequently.  Ironically, the closer you get to the field, the further you will get from it.  If you WANT to be a wildlife biologist or fishing guide, etc, these things are perfectly fine but don't expect to see yourself fishing much (if any) during said occupation.  And honestly, during your free time, you might find yourself wanting nothing to do with being out-of-doors.  That recliner, tv, warm space heater (or cool AC), etc. feels awfully good when you've been out in the elements all...the...time.  No.  Do something which is congruent with "allowing" you the ability to fish during your off time.

 

 

[Chance_Taker4]

4 hours ago, reason said:

If you want an education that will help you understand fish and potentially improve your fishing, then biology or a related field will do that. If you want to make a living fishing, then no degree required, just a boat, all the licensing and a disgruntled disposition is all that is required (along with the willingness to nudge up right to the edge of the law). If you want a career in a fishing related company, then all the fields involved in business are in play, ie marketing, business management, legal, IT, etc. Oh, and the guys I know that fish the most (like 150-250 days a year) work or worked on Wall Street.

I agree with this. I am a lender for a large regional bank and banker's hours and all the random holidays I get allow me to fish more than any other job I had. I even was in the game warden educational program and dropped out because I didn't have time for anything let alone fishing.

[TnRiver46]

25 minutes ago, Chance_Taker4 said:

I agree with this. I am a lender for a large regional bank and banker's hours and all the random holidays I get allow me to fish more than any other job I had. I even was in the game warden educational program and dropped out because I didn't have time for anything let alone fishing.

The game wardens here are only supposed to work 37.5 hrs a week. I graduated college with 7 of them 

[Mr. Aquarium]

i am also in search of a career in the environment! very passionate about wildlife, fishing, nature and the environment 
this is a great thread! 

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Quote

 

Agree with the suggestions above.

 

We are involved with high school fishing clubs and they award scholarship money. Some young anglers have received full rides to fish on college teams and they tend to major in business type degrees. I encourage those who aren't interested in college degrees to look at the trade schools that are involved in the fishing, boating industry, like marine mechanics. They would be able to find a good paying job anywhere in the country. Law enforcement for wildlife, fish and game are also suggestions I saw.

[Chance_Taker4]

36 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

The game wardens here are only supposed to work 37.5 hrs a week. I graduated college with 7 of them 

you have to a park ranger during warden training and I was working 60 hrs between 40 hours as a ranger and the 20 hrs in the educational program. I majored in Business in college and went to work for brinks after graduation. They took my Brinks training as enough to make me a licensed peace officer which is needed to become a ranger. Then I started warden training.

[BuzzHudson19c]

It really depends what you want to do in the "fishing industry."  There's the obvious civil servant route of working for the government. Game warden park ranger type of stuff. Criminal Justice or Environmental Science degrees are usually necessary. The less obvious route can be anything from engineering to business. It really depends on what you are passionate about and what aspect of fishing you want to be involved it. Hope that helps some. It's just tough to say because there are so many parts of the industry.

[Megastink]

I went to Culinary School with the idea of being a Chef. I quickly realized that 60 hour work weeks leave zero days to fish. I graduated anyway (finish what you start), got a job as a manufacturer rep for a good company, and have plenty of time to fish on weekends/holidays. I’ve become proficient with the tools and programs that most companies use to track sales and profits. 

 

Now, with eight years of experience as a manufacturers rep, I hope to find a job as a rep for a tackle company. I don’t care much for food anymore, and haven’t in some time. I know I won’t fish MORE than I do now, but it’ll still give me time to fish, and talk fishing when I’m not on the water. In retrospect, I should have gone to school for business or marketing, but hey, lemonade out of lemons, you know?

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Megastink said:

I went to Culinary School with the idea of being a Chef. I quickly realized that 60 hour work weeks leave zero days to fish. I graduated anyway (finish what you start), got a job as a manufacturer rep for a good company, and have plenty of time to fish on weekends/holidays. I’ve become proficient with the tools and programs that most companies use to track sales and profits. 

 

Now, with eight years of experience as a manufacturers rep, I hope to find a job as a rep for a tackle company. I don’t care much for food anymore, and haven’t in some time. I know I won’t fish MORE than I do now, but it’ll still give me time to fish, and talk fishing when I’m not on the water. In retrospect, I should have gone to school for business or marketing, but hey, lemonade out of lemons, you know?

Food is just fishing fuel!!!

[Megastink]

30 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Food is just fishing fuel!!!

That’s all I want it to be.

[soflabasser]

19 hours ago, Isaiah Hoag said:

Hello, I'm a freshman in college and I love fishing. I want to find a major that is in the fishing industry or related to fishing but I'm not sure what categories are all out there. Anyone have any ideas or *** on where and what i should look into? 

Hello @Isaiah Hoag and welcome to the forum. Many of the members gave you good recommendations but in the end it will be your choice to choose what path you will take. I suggest you consider becoming a Fisheries Biologist if you truly love studying fish or choose a profession that you will enjoy and pay you a salary well above the national average. Money is important when it comes to living comfortably, to save enough money for retirement, and for having the money needed to go on out of state fishing vacations. I would not recommend being a fishing guide, I know several who work very hard and barely make a living. The few guides that do well tend to guide as a side job and very few can make a comfortable long term living. Hard to retire comfortably as a fishing guide if you are working very hard but you barely have money for a comfortable retirement.

[toni63]

I have to disagree with some on here about the "fisheries biologist/game warden" career path. I just don't see a future in either these days. We don't seem to value the same things we used to in this society, so we don't put resources into things like managing our natural lands, preserving the ecosystem, etc. In this day and age that is all viewed as something to cut to save money. It would be a real shame (and I have seen this time and time again over the years) to invest years of your life and your money into a degree that you can't find decent work in.

 

I agree with what others have said. Find something you can do, and do well, that also has a future and will provide you with the funds and time to pursue your hobby away from work. If you can find work in something related to fishing that fits that description, that is about as good as it might get. Just keep your eyes open at what is happening in the world around you while you pursue your education so it doesn't end up being what your passionate about, but has no future to pay your bills. Or funds for a boat, bait and tackle and time off.

 

Good luck. If you are fortunate enough to be able to turn your passion into your paycheck, you'll never work a day in your life.  

[JustJames]

How about a pro angler or you-tuber?

[Sam]

As stated above:

Fisheries Biology - Get a Ph.D. - You may have to go with your state's game and fisheries department

Engineering - Mechanical BS from good mechanical engineering university, like Michigan State.

Marketing - BS but I would not bet on this one. Companies use professional marketing companies

 

May I suggest you contact Dr. Keith Jones of Pure Fishing. He is a great guy and he will give you insight into what Pure Fishing is seeking. Send Dr. Jones a note or give him a call.

 

The Bassmaster Classic I attended a few years ago had a Mississippi State engineering grad working in Dr. Jones' research department. We discussed the difference in stretch between fluorocarbon and monofilament and how Berkley develops their rods. Very interesting discussions and presentations. Of course, every time he finished a demonstration he rang that crazy cowbell.

 

Did you know there are sea grant universities that parallel the land grant universities? Check out sea grant universities and note all of them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Sea_Grant_College_Program

 

No idea what ones are in Michigan but you can check. You may want to head down south to Florida, Alabama or Louisiana and major in their sea grant university biology colleges. Even if you don't attend, you can ask the assistant deans questions about future career positions of their grads.

 

And then there are the Bassmaster and FLW Classics with all of the fishing industry represented. You really need to attend the next one in 2018 and walk around speaking with all of the guys and gals in the fishing industry to hear how they got their careers started. Not only will you have a fantastic time, but it is worth every penny you spend to attend the Classic for a day or two. Outstanding event. You will be blown away. I recommend attending the Classics to everyone on the Forum.

 

At the Classic you can find out if they will be hiring in the future and who should you contact. You really need to know the names of the execs to send your resume and letter of introduction.

 

All the best for you to find a place you will love in the fishing industry. Maybe one day you will be one of the vendors at a Classic and speak with other young men and women about fishing industry careers.

 

Please introduce yourself in the Introductions section of the Forum.

 

 

 

 

 

[BigAngus752]

You are getting some great advice here.  Advice I wish I had gotten 26 years ago when I started my own career.  If you want to have a lot of opportunities to fish, listen to the guys that are telling you to choose a career path that gets you time away from work.  You won't find a job that is just "fishing".  At least not bass fishing.  The second piece of advice I would give you is to choose a career path that puts you in the best LOCATION for fishing.  Figure out where you want to be.  Or if you want to travel around and fish all over the country/world then choose a career path for that.  I have noticed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seem to be responsible for an awful lot of the best fishing lakes all over the country.  Perhaps a career path with them would afford you the opportunity to move every year or so and try a new place.  Good luck!

[MassYak85]

3 hours ago, JustJames said:

How about a pro angler or you-tuber?

If you think you have the personality for making videos there's no harm in giving YouTube a shot, just have a plan if it doesn't work out, and even if it DOES work out, still have something to fall back on because I'm sure someday YouTube will no longer be around. 

[Deleted account]

21 hours ago, JustJames said:

How about a pro angler or you-tuber?

Youtube is a viable option. It's really not too different than other mediums of outdoors presentation. Its still in its infancy, and most are individual or cottage enterprises, but it will surely evolve into something more substantial. It requires more time and effort than readily apparent to most viewers, but so do most things. 

Professional bass angler is not a good career choice for the vast majority.

[NHBull]

I have a buddy that guides and last year he told me

”if you want to make a little money guiding, stat off with a lot of money”

 

The only guy that I know who makes money and fishes is a retired gent who will take 1 person out with him, providing they have their own gear and asked for a 300.00 donation to his grandsons educational fund.