Even with the popularity of the famous fishing essay from the 1400’s, fishing didn’t gain the popularity as a sport and leisure competition until the 16th and 17th centuries. At this time there was an author by the name of Izaak Walton who wrote a book that really took fishing to the next level. It was titled The Complete Angler. This book was so important because it talked about how fishing was OK to do just for the sake of fishing and for no other reason. This made it OK and comfortable for men to go out and fish without worrying about the purpose.
The book was more than just a book about why it’s OK to fish. As a matter of fact, the book had songs and poems and meditations and quotes from books that are viewed today as classic. The main character loves the art form of angling but also loves food and booze and good friendship. In many ways the character from long ago champions the type of regular fisherman that exists today.
However, the Japanese were using their fly fishing for as long as they could remember. They were using fly fishing as a means of survival so it is really unclear when they decided to use fishing as a form of recreation, but one can assume that it has been around in Japan for quite some time.
Big game fishing itself was not always a recreational thing and did not even start as a sport until 1898, which was when the motorized boat was first invented. It was Dr. Charles Holder who was a marine biologist that invented the sport and later became the foremost authority on the subject. He would publish books and become the most sought after man for opinions and exciting narratives on the subject.