One out of every six U.S. residents 16 and older fish. 1
25 percent of U.S. males fish, and 8 percent of U.S. females fish. 1
Excluding those who fished the Great Lakes, freshwater anglers account for 82 percent of all anglers.1
Anglers spend an average of 16 days fishing and take an average of 13 fishing trips annually.1
Anglers 16 and older took 365 million freshwater fishing trips in 2001 totaling 467 million days. Including saltwater anglers, 437 million fishing trips totaling 557 million days were taken. 1
From 1991 to 1996, freshwater fishing days rose 13 percent. 6
The average number of freshwater fishing days per angler increased from 14.3 in 1991 to 16.7 in 1996. 6
Between 1980 and 1995, the number of Americans who fished increased 16 percent. 7
Residents of the South provided the biggest increase in fishing (21 percent) in the United States between 1980 and 1995. 7
The number of males fishing increased 14 percent from 1980 to 1995. 7
More Americans fish than play golf and tennis combined. 2
More Americans fish than play soccer and basketball. 2
The number of youths ages 12 to 17 who participate in freshwater fishing increased 10.9 percent since 1991 to 4.5 million. During the same period, the number of youths ages 12 to 17 who play baseball decreased 15.4 percent to 4 million. Basketball, softball, tennis and volleyball participation declined between 2 and 46 percent. 2
Fishing ranks as the 2nd most popular water-related outdoor sport in the United States. Swimming ranks 1st. 2
Freshwater fishing ranks as one of the top-five participation sports in 7 states. Fishing in general (both freshwater and saltwater) ranks as one of the top-five participation sports in 18 states. 2
Fishing is the No. 1 participation sport in Minnesota, Florida, New Jersey and North Carolina. 2
Freshwater fishing is the 10th most popular participation sport among women. 2
26.8 percent of all anglers are female 2 (representing 8 percent of the U.S. female population). 1
5 percent of all anglers are black (representing 7 percent of the black population). 1
5 percent of all anglers are Hispanic (representing 7 percent of the Hispanic population). 1
The number of women fishing increased 19 percent from 1980 to 1995 compared to 14 percent for males. 7
The region that experienced the largest increase in the number of females fishing was the Northeast. 7
Women spend on average $246 per year for trip-related fishing expenses and $70 per year on fishing equipment for a total of $3 billion. 5
Hispanics fish at lower rates than African-Americans and women, but they spend, on average, more money - $434 per angler for trips and $154 for equipment. Hispanics spent a total of $696 million per year on fishing trips and equipment. 5
Fishing equipment expenditures among African-American anglers increased 43 percent between 1991 and 1996. 5
African-American anglers spend on average $324 per year for trip-related fishing expenses and $128 per year on fishing equipment for a total of $814 million. 5
African-American anglers spend more days fishing (22 vs. 18) and take more trips (18 vs. 14), on average, than all anglers. 5
64 percent of African-American anglers live in the South compared to 39 percent of all anglers. 5
16 percent of African-American anglers live in the Midwest. 5
26 percent of female anglers live in the Midwest. 5
43 percent of Hispanic anglers live in the South. 5
38 percent of Hispanic anglers live in the West compared to 20 percent of all anglers. 5
The number of days fished by African-American anglers increased 72 percent between 1991 and 1996 compared to 22 percent for all anglers. 5
The number of days fished by female anglers increased 15 percent between 1991 and 1996. 5
The number of days fished by Hispanic anglers remained constant between 1991 and 1996, but fishing trip expenditures increased 50 percent during the same period. 5
1.9 million persons 16 and older with disabilities took 33 million fishing trips in 2001, fishing for 41 million days.1
25 percent of anglers fish as a way of spending time with family and friends. 3
65 percent of non-anglers and 88 percent of anglers say that being asked by a child would make them want to go fishing or make them want to fish more often. 3
Total economic output generated by freshwater fishing in 2001 exceeded $74 billion, including the impact on retailers, suppliers of goods and services to retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, plus the indirect and induced impacts resulting from these activities. Including saltwater fishing, economic output reached $116 billion. 4
The average angler incurs $1,046 in fishing-related expenses. 1
Freshwater fishing expenditures in 2001 generated more than $19.4 billion in wages. Including saltwater fishing, $30.1 billion in wages were generated (up 23 percent since 1991). 4
683,892 full-time jobs exist due to freshwater fishing. Including saltwater fishing, the total exceeds 1 million (up 16 percent since 1991). 4
$2.07 billion was spent on fishing tackle in 2001. 2
Fishing tackle ranks 4th in terms of consumer expenditures for non-team sports equipment. Golf equipment ranks first followed by exercise equipment and firearms for hunting. 2
Florida anglers spend more than $4 billion annually on fishing and related equipment. California and Texas anglers spend more than $2 billion. 4
Angler expenditures exceed $1 billion in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Wisconsin. 4
In 2001, sport fishing generated more than $470 million in state income tax. 4
Sport fishing generated more than $4.8 billion in federal income tax in 2001. 4
In 1998, excise taxes applied to hunting, fishing and recreational shooting equipment and motorboat fuels provided more than $426 million to states for fish stocking, wildlife restoration and research, aquatic resource education, hunter education and other activities. 8
