Professional Fishing Guide and Tournament Angler Matt Shura
From catching bluegills in a pond with his dad to becoming one of the top professional anglers in the US, Matt Shura’s story is unique to say the least. The Arizona native participated in his first fishing tournament in high school and was 100% hooked after that (pun fully intended). After 25 years of service, Matt retired from the Gilbert Fire Department. He was ready to go fishing! Now, he lives full-time in his RV (boat in tow) and travels from lake to lake for tournaments and guide trips.
Matt has had many memorable moments in his pro-fishing career, but two events stick out for him. He caught the state record catch at 19 years old in Arizona. Check out this video from Reel Ventures about Matt’s historic catch! Participating in the California Open is a close second memorable moment. First place was a brand-new boat and $20,000 prize. Matt was able to bag this major pro-am tournament win and will never forget that feeling!
When it comes to pre-tournament rituals, Matt is rigorous. He states, “it’s a process from top to bottom; checking all my equipment, making sure everything from the tires up is ready to go.” Matt usually goes up a couple days before a tournament and pre-fishes to get a feel of what the fish are doing. While being prepared is important, starting with the right equipment is key, especially out on the water.
Lithium Power on Water and Land
Thanks to Battle Born Batteries and the reliable power of lithium, Matt has been able to get out on the water and stay out there for 3 days in a row without charging. Battery anxiety is a thing of the past for Matt. Now he can get out there and stay out there in his boat, RV, or both - and never have to worry about where his power is coming from.
His 2013 25’ Winnebago Accent setup consists of:
- 3 - 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 Battle Born Deep Cycle Batteries
- 1 - Victron MultiPlus Inverter Charger 3000-Watt 24V
- 1 - Victron Bus Smart Dongle
- 3 - 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 Battle Born Deep Cycle Batteries (in series as 36V)
- 1 - Dual Pro 4 Bank 15 Amp Professional Series & 12V Outputs Battery Charger (15 amp per bank)
- 1 - Minnkota Precision Charger on AGM Setting
Mentoring Aspiring Young Anglers
Finding his passion at a young age led Matt to work with other kids in his community to fall in love with fishing. Matt is a volunteer boat captain for the Phoenix Junior Bassmasters. This gives him the opportunity to get out on the water with two kids at a time and coach them with recommendations in real time. Matt finds this work extremely rewarding, saying, “it feels great to be a mentor and have an influence on the kids.” The kids must catch their own fish, but Matt takes them out on his boat and gives tips and tricks throughout the tournament. This year will be his first time being the tournament director. To find out more about Phoenix Junior Bassmaster, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Matt believes it is important to coach the younger generations to keep the sport growing. We thank Matt for having an influence on these kids at an important age, and for spreading the joy of fishing out on the water to the next generation and beyond!