In yet another indication that fantasy sports is expanding, the Wall Street Journal wrote a story on a new fantasy fishing competition (www.fantasyfishing.com). This new entry comes from the mind (and pocketbook) of Irwin Jacobs, chairman of the professional bass-fishing tournament group FLW Outdoors. The kicker is that he is offering a $1 million payout to the winner of this competition. From what I’m seeing and hearing, this is the largest payout for a fantasy sports competition. Can you believe that? Not for football, or basketball, or baseball but….fishing?

According to the website, this is how you play:

All you have to do is pick 10 pro anglers for each FLW Tour event and the Forrest Wood Cup, and you could win upwards of $1.7 million in cash. That’s it. It’s that simple. In 2008, there are 7 tournaments, and you could win $100,000 at each of those tournaments. Not only that, at season’s end, the top player with the most cumulative points will win a record $1 million* in cash - guaranteed. It’s that easy, it’s free, and it’s that rewarding. CONTEST BEGINS JANUARY 15, 2008.

I think the prize money is enough to get people to give it a try. Doesn’t also hurt to have Wal-Mart as your title sponsor. Given that hundreds of thousands of anglers follow the bass tours on TV, including ESPN, there is a ready market for this type of competition. We’ll have to follow its progress but all signs point to success. Fish on!