Jason Arnold: A Portrait in Conservation
Over the past two decades a host of fishing industry companies have benefited from photographer Jason Arnold’s talents and his passion, all of which began much earlier.
“I went to school to be a teacher and then my senior year of college I decided this wasn’t the career track for me. I talked my parents into letting me attend art school. After being a straight C student in college, in art school I was on the dean’s list, graduated with the best art portfolio, and I got a great internship with Reuters. My internship lasted about a week before Reuters just hired me and I started shooting sports for them,” notes Arnold.
After shooting five Super Bowls, five Stanley Cups, six World Series, The Master’s and a host of other sports, Arnold turned his time and attention to the environment in which he was raised—the oceanic realm.
“Since I was little, my dad was a commercial lobster diver, so I always had time on the water with him and that started my love for that environment”, reflects Arnold. But as much as Jason loved life under water, the exhilaration of being on the surface drew him topside into a 10-year career on the pro surfing tour. He recalls, “I went to some insane places all over the planet and each of them magnified my passion for the ocean all the more. So, as my interest in art took shape, sharing the passion for the ocean was a natural progression into professional photography.
“Then, probably a year into shooting the underwater realm I picked up work for Sport Fishing magazine working on a project for Costa Del Mar. I entered a Sport Fishing photo contest and entered a photo of fish underwater at night and I won! I got to meet magazine editor Doug Olander and he asked me if I had any other photography. I started sending them photos and getting published and that led to going on editorial trips with them. That was what kind of set me off into doing this professionally for a living,” notes Arnold.
With regards to conservation, Arnold has always fought to protect the environment in which he works and so many other anglers take pleasure. “I think we’re kind of at a crossroads right now. We could lose everything we’ve got, or we can make a stand and do something about it and save our ecosystem. The thing I’ve realized over the years about the environment is if you give it half a chance it bounces back pretty quick.”
Amassing decades of incredible images, Jason Arnold is now working with the Coastal Conservation Association and in partnership with AFTCO to share his talents and gift for underwater fish photography in a one-of-a-kind fundraising collaboration. The coffee table underwater fish photography book features freshwater and saltwater prized gamefish that make up the North American ecosystem. All proceeds from the book will be donated to the Coastal Conservation Association to assist in restoration projects like fish stocking and clean-up efforts.
“I saw an opportunity to raise conservation awareness through shooting this book of underwater fish photography. It’s kind of a record of what is underwater to inspire to help save the ecosystem. That’s basically what the book is about,” says Arnold. Arnold launched the book at ICAST 2022, AFTCO Presents: Any Fish, Any Water, Photography by Jason Arnold. His hope is to share the work with the industry he loves at the annual ICAST industry trade show to highlight the environment and raise funds for the Coastal Conservation Association.
Besides the book, Arnold walks the walk. Everyday Arnold goes surfing or fishing with his son and instills in him the importance of protecting the environment. “We try to pick up as much trash as we can. We try to leave the environment better than when we found it,” says Arnold.
Besides shooting photography for Johnson Outdoors Brands Humminbird, Minn Kota, Cannon, Old Town, and Ocean Kayak, Arnold keeps busy with projects for other key fishing industry brands including Daiwa, Shimano, AFTCO, and St. Croix Rods.
In his spare time, you can find Arnold fishing or surfing with his son. “I spend every chance I can in or near the water. It’s where I started and it’s where I want to be.” concludes Arnold.