The meme shown above converts fishing to dollars. Yes, we all spend too much on the sport (or wish we could). We overpay for gadgets we don’t need, lures we may never use, and scouting trips that may never pan out. But you know what? It doesn’t matter.

I don’t hear weekend tennis players or golfers or late-night gamers complain that they didn’t “cash a check.” If you’re fishing as a way to get rich, let me let you in on a secret – you can make far more per hour flipping burgers.

Ninety-nine percent of us don’t fish for a living or to meaningfully supplement our income. Even among full-time pros – including some who’ve experienced a fair amount of success – the ROI can be depressing. So stop saying “I’m gonna pay some bills with this BFL.” You’re not. And it’s not that I don’t think you’re a good fisherman, or capable of winning (I probably don’t even know you). Rather it’s the fact that you’re prioritizing the wrong things and also probably that you’re bad or willfully blind, when it comes to math.

Go out.

Have fun.

Celebrate the wins even if they don’t pay squat.

Mourn the losses as if they paid millions.

I much prefer the following meme, which makes it not so much about profit, as it does about image. If I see one more guy with five graphs on his boat fishing in 2 feet of water and wasting half the day adjusting his settings, I may lose it. Again, there are amateurs out there who are incredible anglers, and highly fluent with electronics, but weekend warriors – myself included – tend to take ourselves a little bit too seriously. Lighten up, Francis.