Record high fishing participation reached in 2024
by National Marine Manufacturers Association 12 Aug 2025 08:55 PDT
2025 Special Report on Fishing © National Marine Manufacturers Association
The post-pandemic surge of participation in fishing continues to get record numbers of participants on the water, but data from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation's (RBFF) 2025 Special Report on Fishing finds churn continues to pose a significant challenge for the industry. In 2024, 57.9 million Americans ages 6 and up took to the nation's waterways to enjoy recreational fishing, an all-time high 19 percent of the U.S. population. Data also continues to underscore the critical importance of introducing fishing at a young age.
Eighty-five percent of current fishing participants fished before the age of 12, but participation rates fell sharply after a child turned 18, and specifically female youth quit fishing at an 11% higher rate than male youth.
"Retaining newcomers remains an integral part of fishing's continued success," said RBFF President & CEO Dave Chanda "New anglers are younger, from all walks of life and digitally connected.
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