You know Travis Hunter the 2-way phenom. But a 2-sport star? Take a ride on his fishing boat

January brings a cold front sweeping across Arizona. At Roosevelt Lake, about 100 miles east of Phoenix, the wind howls as white-capped waves slam against the dock.

A boat emerges—cautiously yet swiftly—seeking shelter in a cove. Onboard is a valuable cargo: 24-karat gold. And at the helm? Not just any fisherman, but the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

Al Noraker had no doubt his friend and fishing companion, Travis Hunter, would claim the 2024 Heisman Trophy. So confident was he that, well before Thanksgiving, he prepared a special gift—a state-of-the-art gold fishing reel. For nearly two months, it rested in Noraker’s office in Loveland, Colorado, waiting for the right moment.

Getting a slot in the packed schedule of college football’s latest sensation isn’t easy. It wasn’t like 2023, when Hunter had just arrived in Colorado and was messaging Noraker—then president of fishing brand KastKing—on nearly every football-free day, eager to hit the water.

“That day, I realized Travis wasn’t just a phenomenal athlete—he was an all-around great kid,” Noraker recalls of their first meeting. “We couldn’t be more different—I’m this older White guy from the suburbs, and he’s this world-class young Black athlete from the South.

“But when we’re on a boat, none of that matters. It’s like we’ve been fishing together forever. That’s all that counts. And it’s just pure fun.”

On this chilly January day, the long-awaited moment arrived. Noraker handed Hunter a silver briefcase engraved with his name, jersey number (12), and a Buffaloes helmet on a bronze plaque—an homage to the Heisman Trophy. Inside lay a fishing reel that belonged in a trophy case.

“I thought he was going to fall out of the boat,” Noraker says, laughing. “His jaw just dropped.”

But keeping Hunter distracted on a fishing boat is a tough task.

“The moment the cameras were off, Travis was like, ‘Alright, can we go fishing now?’” recalls A.J. Gore, who was with KastKing on the trip. “It was hilarious. He’d just been gifted the most advanced gold fishing reel on the market, and he was more excited to get back to fishing.”

To understand Travis Hunter, the football star (and likely top-five NFL Draft pick), you have to understand Travis Hunter, the fisherman. Scoring touchdowns or making game-changing interceptions? Those aren’t the dreams that fill his nights.

“When I dream, I’m on a boat, fishing,” he told ESPN at December’s Heisman Trophy ceremony.

At 21, Hunter shares his fishing adventures on YouTube, even going head-to-head with Colorado coach Deion Sanders in friendly competitions. The second season of Amazon Prime’s Coach Prime opens with a scene of Hunter and Noraker on a boat, with Hunter reflecting, “Fishing and football—that’s all I’ve known since I was a kid.”

Even in college, his passion for fishing shaped his journey. He landed NIL deals with fishing companies, including KastKing. And at last month’s NFL Scouting Combine, when ESPN’s Laura Rutledge asked how he handled the pressure of the upcoming draft, Hunter’s answer was simple:

“I just watch fishing videos all day.”

For Hunter, fishing isn’t just a hobby.

“When Travis talks about fishing, he’s dead serious,” Noraker says. “Other than being the best football player on the planet, that’s all he wants to do.”

This is a side of Hunter few get to see. When he’s out on the water, football fades into the background. The Athletic spoke to six people who’ve fished with Hunter over the years, and each one noted that he rarely—if ever—brings up football. Some in the fishing community didn’t even know who he was at first.

Professional angler Max Hernandez recalls their first meeting in Colorado in the summer of 2023.

“I thought he was kinda tall and lanky for a football player, but whatever,” Hernandez says. “Later that night, I looked him up… and I was like, ‘Oh my God, he’s a big deal.’”

While Hunter’s football skills are widely recognized, he’s no average fisherman either. In May 2024, professional bass angler Matt Becker met Hunter for a fishing session near Orlando. The moment he arrived, Hunter jumped out of the car and went straight to the water, studying it.

“I could tell immediately how passionate he was about fishing,” Becker says. “I can spot that in someone pretty fast.”

For Hunter, fishing is an escape. No music. No podcasts. Just nature—and, of course, a little competitive banter.

“There was a lot of smack talk, trying to out-fish each other,” Becker recalls. “Travis caught the first fish, and he made sure I heard about it.”

A fishing trip with Hunter guarantees jokes, energy, and friendly wagers. One day, Noraker challenged him: whoever caught the longest total length of fish would win. If Hunter won, he’d get a new rod and reel. If Noraker won, he’d get tickets to Colorado’s sold-out 2023 home opener against Nebraska.

“My wife and I ended up with great seats to a fantastic game,” Noraker chuckles.

Of course, not every fishing trip goes as planned. While out at Valley Lake Ranch in North Texas, Hunter’s boat motor broke down in the middle of the water. At first, it was a headache. But he and fishing guide Cooper Thor just laughed it off and hopped onto a friend’s boat to continue.

“He’s just one of the guys,” Thor says. “He’ll fish sunup to sundown without a single complaint.”

For Hunter, fishing isn’t just a pastime—it’s a way to step away from the pressure of football. And he’s not the first athlete to find solace on the water.

In 2007, future Hall of Fame offensive tackle Joe Thomas famously skipped the NFL Draft to go fishing with his dad on Lake Michigan. He got the call from the Cleveland Browns—who picked him third overall—while still on the boat.

Looking back, Thomas never expected his choice to make headlines. Fishing had always been his way of unwinding.

“You spend 99 percent of your time in football—training, recovering, watching film. It’s high-stakes and high-stress,” Thomas says. “You need an escape to recharge.”

For Hunter, that escape often ends with another one of his favorite traditions: barbecue. After receiving his golden reel, the group headed to Salinas’s Smoke Street in Globe, Arizona. The restaurant wasn’t even officially open yet. But being a Heisman Trophy winner comes with certain perks.

“Not sure if people realize this,” Gore jokes. “Travis likes football. He loves fishing. And he’s obsessed with good barbecue.”

Even as Hunter’s football career skyrockets, fishing remains a constant—an anchor in the chaos, a simple joy, a dream in its purest form.

“If Travis weren’t the Heisman Trophy winner, I guarantee he’d be either a massive fishing influencer or competing professionally,” says Jose Cinco, who appeared on The Travis Hunter Show podcast to talk fishing. “That’s how much he loves it.”

When Hunter’s name is called at the NFL Draft this April in Green Bay, teams will know they’re getting an elite two-way player—a playmaking wide receiver and shutdown cornerback. But could they also be landing a dual-sport athlete?

The fishing world is divided on whether Hunter is better at catching footballs or fish. But he himself doesn’t hesitate.

Chuck Pippin, who’s fished with Hunter twice near Orlando, remembers a moment when Hunter was reeling in a catch.

“I asked him, ‘Are you better at offense, defense, or bass fishing?’”

Hunter didn’t hesitate.

“Bass fishing,” he answered. “That’s my passion.”