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NORTON - Fishing trips don't get more competitive than the one Mark Burgess is on.

The Norton resident is in his first Bassmaster Elite Series season, "the highest level of fishing," he says.

Looking like an auto racer, Burgess is outfitted in gear covered in corporate sponsors' logos: Yamaha, Skeeter, Reaction Strike among them.

Fishing is his full-time job, averaging 15 to 20 tournaments each year, plus promotional and sales events.

And on his Web site, markburgessfishing.com, he posts tips, news and a link to his tour journal. Burgess says his first season fishing at the top rung has followed his expectations.

"I have been fishing against these guys on other high-level circuits, as well as the B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) Open Tournaments," Burgess says.

"It has challenged me to become a better angler."

This interview was conducted by e-mail.

SUN CHRONICLE: You've fished your whole life. What do you remember about catching that striped bass and bluefish at age 4?

MARK BURGESS: I was fishing with my dad for stripers and bluefish and my mother insisted that my dad tie a rope around me, so that if I fell out of the boat, he could just pull me back in. (I think my dad was more worried about me losing the rod!)

SC: Many communities hold youth fishing derbies. Do you ever check them out?

BURGESS: Yes, as a matter of fact, I try to attend as many youth events as I can.

I have been involved with B.A.S.S. youth programs, Autism Awareness events, and Camp Carefree, a diabetes fishing tournament for kids.

It is just as good a time for me as the kids! (I think I have a better time than the kids do!) SC: If a youngster dreams of turning pro, is this a good start?

BURGESS: Absolutely!! I would also encourage them to join a youth bass club in the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation in their area.

Information is easily found online @ http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/federation/index.

There are youth clubs and Casting Kids events to get a kid started.

SC: What do you remember most about your first pro tourney?

BURGESS: My first professional tournament was in the fall of 1997 at Lake Hartwell in Georgia.

I only caught one fish during that event, but was fishing in the winning area with the winning bait and I knew then, that this was what I wanted to do for a living.

The following year, I became the Massachusetts B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Champion and launched my pro career.

SC: How often do you fish just by yourself?

BURGESS: Too often!! You learn more and have more fun when you can fish with other people.

I fish alone in official practice and when I am experimenting with different baits.

SC: Where's your favorite place to fish close to home?

BURGESS: Norton Reservoir and Lake Winnecunnet - both in Norton.

SC: How has the pro fishing scene changed since you turned pro, in terms of prizes and corporate sponsors?

BURGESS: The purses have increased, along with the entry fees. Corporate sponsors play a much larger role now; it was mainly endemic sponsors in the past.

The sport is still growing and is fairly young compared to many other sports. The place where we need to get to now is with the full field being paid with no entry fee.

SC: You mention your wife and kids quite a bit on your Web site. How often do you see them? How do you handle being on tour so often?

BURGESS: When I am actually on tour, I don't see them as much as I like to; I did get back home a few days and then Lisa and the boys came to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia in April.

When I am home, we get to spend a lot of quality time together, and I think we actually get to spend more quality time together than most families.

There is a lot that goes on with the business end of fishing. My wife, Lisa and I, are a team. We share common goals and talk at least twice, if not three times a day. I have a high comfort level as Lisa handles everything back home, and so I can concentrate on fishing.

That is the one downside of the sport for me; that my family cannot travel with me all the time. We are working on them traveling with me more in the future.