Angler Participation & Lifestyles
Sportfishing in America
According to the latest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's report, the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife–Associated Recreation, nearly 30 million anglers generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people. The political clout is even greater when you consider at least 60 million anglers fish at some point over a five-year period.
Details on state and national-level sportfishing participation and economic impacts are available from the American Sportfishing Association's Sportfishing in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse.
Additional economic information is provided in the Industry and Economic Trends section.
The Fishing License Sales Report
The fishing license sales report released by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and the American Sportfishing Association represents recreational fishing in the United States. Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina and Texas, four of the 12 participating states, are among the top ten states in terms of the impact anglers have on the nation’s economy.
Historic Fishing License Sales Data:
Based on state license data obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the ASA has compiled historical trends in fishing license sales. Click here for a PDF report that provides sales numbers back to 1973 and click here for an Excel file of sales by state from 2001 to the most current year available.
Angler Lifestyle Analysis
This section contains information regarding an analysis of state fishing license data to learn where people are more likely to take up fishing or to drop out, how loyal people are as license buyers and anglers, trends driving angler numbers and more. Reports for 15 individual states and a comprehensive final report are available. This project was conducted in partnership with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and ASA with funding from the Sport Fish Restoration Multi-State Grant program.
2010 Angler Access in the U.S. Report
The American Sportfishing Association and Responsive Management collaborated on this comprehensive study of the myriad issues concerning access that affects anglers and landowners in the United States as well as the opinions and attitudes of federal and state agency professionals who make decisions regarding angler access. The report is available in PDF format.
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
The RBFF has produced a large amount of useful and important information about anglers and how ot engage more people in fishing. For researchers, this is a "must visit" site.
COMING SOON
* Fishing's Competition: funded by an AFWA multi-state grant, this report will help identify what anglers do in the years they decide not to purchase a fishing license, and why.
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