Red Rock Adventure Blog

Like golf and auto racing before it, sportfishing has quietly become one of the hottest sports out there -- both out on the water and on TV.

"People who don't even fish tell me that their kids are watching me on Saturday morning," says Ish Monroe, 34, an angler who has his own ESPN2 series, "Yo, Ish!" ... It's not uncommon to find Monroe playing hip-hop, trash-talking his prey and showing off the snazzy 20-inch rims on his boat trailer.

Such antics are luring viewers to the action, including the "Super Bowl" of sportfishing, the annual Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport-Bossier City, La. The event, airing on ESPN2 starting Feb. 21, will feature the wiliest fishermen in the land -- and one fisherwoman -- 2008 women's Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Kim Bain-Moore, 28. She will be the first female angler ever in the 51-person field vying for the top prize of $500,000.