Hello, you are NOT forced to fish, you can get money via other ways!
Also, you can get upgrades for fishing.
I did find ways to gain money via Guild Board and foraging, and I already bought all the upgrades for fishing and obtain all the skills.
Even if I bought reinforced hooks and fake lures and obtaining the wooden fishing rod, I can only ever fish in the market pond and still get a one second remaining timer with Redeyes.
I mean, reason why I love this game is not only the story or the characters but there is a fishing mini game. I love fishing mini games xD