NATCHEZ — Michael Stricklin, 18, is a co-angular fisherman on a mission to become a professional boater in the world of bass fishing.

In the process, Michael finds himself chasing sponsorships and casting bait.

Michael is a regular on the Wal-Mart FLW fishing tour, gaining as much experience as he can by fishing with the likes of pros such as Shinichi Fukae.

Fishing is the path Michael’s chosen, but his dream of one day fishing for a profession now has a time limit.

His dream becoming a reality hinges on Michael scoring a big sponsorship, which will come from him marketing himself and winning Rayovac co-angular fishing tournaments. And if Michael does not fulfill those requirements by November, he may have to pursue a different avenue for income.

“If one of the big deals come through and I have my entrance fees paid for, I’ll do it,” Michael said. “It’s going to have to be a job with income or I’m going to the oil field. I think it’s possible to fish for a living though.”

Already sponsored by Sweet Tooth Deer Attractant, Rat-L-Trap, Denali rod, Sullivan Collision, Solar Bay Window Films, Bryan’s Marine, Power Poles, FLW and Nikki’s Family Restaurant, Michael has kept busy competing in the FLW tour in 2014.

He hasn’t done too bad either. Michael had his best finish to date in Oklahoma when he reeled in a 14-pound bass on the second day of the tournament. The big catch propelled Michael from 40th to eighth, before eventually finishing fourth.

After he finished fourth in March, Michael placed 18th in Texas and finished 54th in Arkansas in April. Michael competed against at least 170 fishermen in each tournament.

The tournament takes place after fishermen gather and receive a text, informing them what their boat number, who their boater is and what time they’re supposed to report. Every co-angular fishes with a boater, where the co-angular can pickup experience by watching the professional fisherman test bait and navigate the waters.

Through doing this, Michael’s piled on 17,000 miles on his truck since January, and he understands that it takes approximately $35,000 to fish annually. In other words, Michael has learned the price he’s paid to be a fisherman can only sustain if he makes the right strategic moves in the boat and in the open market.

“Everybody thinks you get to fish for a living and it’s an easy job, but it’s really not the case,” Michael said. “There are a 1,000 different decisions to make, and if you don’t make the right decisions at the right time, then it’s really tough.”

Michael doesn’t have all of the free time in the world to fish and gain sponsorships. As a homeschooled senior, Michael is planning to graduate in December, which is why his time limit is set for November. Michael does his studies online through Abeka Academy with his aunt Crystal Hanley so he can access his schoolwork while he’s in another state preparing for a tournament.

“Everything is actually geared towards the pros and that’s why we’re pushing for him to be a boater” Bethany Stricklin, Michael’s mother, said.

While the pressure may be turned up with Michael’s self-imposed time restraint, he plans on making the most of this year fishing, hoping to receive a sponsorship that allows him to live his dream.