No one is claiming fishing is as demanding as that other sport that counts 'tackle' in its lexicon, but the anglers say there's more to fishing than sitting back and watching for a bobber to dart underwater.

"Fishing is a very demanding sport, both physically and mentally," said Sisk "It's very tough. "We aren't going out and doing two-a-days as far as practice goes, but it's eight-hour days.

"I heard that throwing 150 casts is equivalent to throwing 100 pitches in a game," said Fishing Club member Carson Morgan. And, according to their coach, serious anglers often make 500 casts in a day.

For now, the students fish for fun on the weekends, joining the enthusiasts who pump an estimated $215 million per year into the state economy. But Camden students and their counterparts from 13 other schools have signed a petition asking the South Carolina High School League, which regulates school athletics in the state, to sanction the activity as a sport. They're looking for at least two more schools to sign on before they submit it.