Only when he doesn't get to go fishing for a couple of weeks.

It's what we do! Some people buy shoes, some people collect nascar plates, we collect useless lures! But it is fun. If we actually try to keep up with it we might start doing something dumb like collecting money.

Are you kidding?

I have clamed my fishing business for the past 15 years. The key is to have a good accountant that will go to the audit for you if one is called. The IRS will call a audit because most spend money on fishing as a hobby. There is a fine line there. Your accounant will help you through it.
You are right no profit is required, just an effort to make money. Having sponsors helps, taking customers helps, booking trips to Mexico helps, fishing major tournaments helps and etc...
I get my receips in order each month and hand wright them down in a ledger.
Here are some of the things you keep up with:
1. Keep a truck log on every trip, no-matter where you are going and make it work for fishing. Stop to buy one thing ro look at a boat. IRS allows about 5% usiage for personal driving. So, you got to make all those miles work.
2. Fuel tickets, just in case the accountant can't make the milage work. Oil changes, and boat oil/additives and car washes.
3. Motels/house expenses on lake (electric, cleaning lady and yard man).
4. Supplies: lures, rods, reels, truck equip, boat equipment and etc..
5. Repairs on truck, boat, trailer, camper and all fishing equipment.
6. Laundry of fishing shirts and cloths bought for fishing.
7. Insurance on all equipment.
8. Permits, liscens, fees, tournament entry and etc.
9. Advertisement and publications
10. Then ofcourse a collum for winnings. You want to list everything you can for winnings: Grab bag at tournament, meal, cap, T-shirt, and MONEY Won or earned by taking a customer.

It takes me one hour each month to put my recieps in order and wright them all in the ledger. At the end of the year I run a register tape on each months receips individually. The IRS will ask you to do the tape if they audit, so I do it every year for each item (gas, motel, food, supplies and etc.)...

you gotta put on your big boy pants to be a serious bass fisherman, but I have a buddy that got bit by the saltwater bug and has a big boat in La.

= to 3 of my boat payments for a tank of gas. he shows me what he spends on a couple of offshore tuna trips and I feel lucky to have the bass bug an not the tuna/marlin bug.

It is none of my business how much I spend on fishing, hunting and beer.