Bigbulls, it is not the same.

While I personally think the phrase "professional angler" is an oxymoron, what guys involved in Bass masters do differs from this in one key way.

That is, what a "professional angler" does in the course of their sport is not a perversion of the nature of that sport. People who fish routinely catch and release fish all of the time, whether it is because the fish is under regulation size, it is not a desired species or simply because they do not intend to eat or otherwise utilize that fish. That is the nature of the sport.

Hunting on the other hand, is based around the kill or in some cases, the decision not to.

Hunting also has a much more sensitive ethical edge to it, if for no other reason than the familiarity that humans share with other mamals. For example, we do not typically impale smaller live mamals or other creatures to use as bait for larger ones. But we do that when we fish, and rarely does anyone take issue.

Hunting simply has a different aura or air or spirit about it that really just is not compatible with a competitive scenario.

I could go on, but I would at this point put forth the proposition that if you cannot see the difference now, it would be time-prohibitive for me to attempt to help you see it.