Became.

One warm still day in a deep tidal creek he hooked a tarpon and was shocked as it hurtled out of the water near the boat, twisting its big silver body and its gill plates rattling before it broke off. That day he thought he counted a thousands shades of turquoise in the water. He had become a water, wind, and cloud watcher in addition to being a cook. Late at night he danced to a transistor radio.

Jim Harrison, from "The Man Who Gave Up His Name"