He is really sending Ash away to die in the wilderness with his only defense is Owl food. That is the truth. One small town, two girls, and an old dude who is the only real man there.
I see things is the fatso, is just fishing to eat magi-karp all that time, and the two assistants are really doing all the hard labor. Just like in real life.
Seriously think about it. Oak gets the best of both worlds, and he just needs to step out and decide, real young and not going to school or housewife with no husband.
Seriously what kind of town have fat tub of lard sitting at the water edge pretending to be a slowpoke with his X$$@!! fishing for ##!#!!@@.
The funniest part is how Oak is probably one of the scientist who worked on the Mew project as well. That is his retirement. Now just need to get the only other man out of his life by sending him into the wilderness to collect badges from these "GYMS" so that he could be a master. Seriously Ash should have some education otherwise his life is going to be some trainee in a zoo.