The reason I go fishing is that I enjoy catching fish. I prefer to fish alone or with a buddy, away from the crowds. I can be competitive. If fishing with a buddy, I WANT to catch the most/biggest fish. The competition is all in my head. If I'm losing, then I know there's something I need to change in order to catch more fish. In that way, it improves my fishing.
Public/Sponsored competitions? No thank you. I think I could win them, but if I did, the mechanics of it might take the fun and spontanaeity (SP?) out of fishing. And if I didn't win, my ego would suffer, and I risk losing my love for fishing. Plus, I enjoy catching a variety of species, and I would not enjoy focusing on just one for any length of time. I've been fishing for so long, it has become part of my identity. I have no desire to risk losing that by attempting to become a tournament angler. If I could make a decent living doing it, I could be persuaded to change my opinion....maybe.