According to the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), more women picked up a rod and reel in 2021 than in any previous year, and now make up 36% of all anglers in the United States, the highest number on record for female participation in fishing.
In their 2023 Special Report on Fishing, RBFF claims that 54.5 million Americans ages 6 and over went fishing in 2022, an increase of 4% over 2021 and just under 2020’s high of 54.7 million. Out of 4.1 million first-time participants, 40% in 2022 were women as were 46% of those considering fishing in 2022. This total is up from 3.7 million new participants the prior year. In total, there were 19.8 million lady anglers in the United States as per the report.
According to the RBFF statistics, 2.7 million more female anglers fished than 5 years prior, and 4.2 million more than in 2011. The report also says that 1.8 million female participants were first-time anglers.
“We know through research that recruiting and retaining female anglers is critical to growing fishing and boating participation overall,” said RBFF President and CEO Dave Chanda, adding “The bottom line is, increasing female fishing participation is also good for business, and the industry stands to benefit greatly from focusing more on this growing audience.”
The RBFF report says that saltwater fishing has emerged as a driving force behind the financial stimulus female anglers bring to the industry. In 2021, female saltwater anglers spent more per capita than female freshwater anglers ($3.7 billion versus $6.6 billion, respectively), while also noting that female anglers spent relatively more on special equipment including vehicles, boats, real estate, and more for saltwater fishing compared to freshwater fishing (35% compared to 22%, respectively).
“Even after many have regained a sense of normalcy and returned to old routines, people are still choosing to fish and boat,” Chanda said, while adding “With a renewed focus on wellness, fishing and boating offer an accessible outlet for those looking to unplug, escape the stresses of everyday life, and spend more time with friends and family.”
Overall, the RBFF report stated that 18% of the American population went fishing last year, with 14.3 million anglers fishing in saltwater.
Learn more at www.takemefishing.org.
