From the 1960s to today, the sport of competitive angling has seen a meteoric rise in popularity. The numbers and types of tournaments now held across the U.S. and around the world, are as varied as the species they fish for. The competitors themselves are equally diverse, coming from every continent on the planet, yet they share a common set of goals: to challenge themselves against the very best the sport has to offer, to become better anglers in the process, and to share in the fame and fortune these tournaments bring to the men and women that win them. These contests have also become an important conduit of knowledge for the future of our sport by bringing the excitement of sportfishing competition and cutting-edge techniques shared on television and social media to anglers around the world.