The 2025 winter show season is officially winding down for staff at The Fisherman Magazine, with the New Jersey crew wrapping a record-breaking three-day Saltwater Fishing Expo in North Jersey, and our New England and Long Island teams respectively looking ahead towards this weekend’s Connecticut Fishing & Outdoor Show and the Port Jeff Fishing Show on Sunday the 23rd on Long Island (see our online Events Calendar for more).
By all accounts, this “show season” in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Coast has been a good one with many retailers reporting an uptick in tackle sales heading into the 2025 fishing season. So does this mean you’re going to be seeing a few more anglers out there next to you this season? It’s possible; in fact, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, the nation’s angling community has grown to nearly 40-million strong, over 3.7 million of whom fish within waters covered by The Fisherman Magazine.
Resident & Non-Resident Anglers by State
Maine: 367,120
New Hampshire: 180,400
Vermont: 122,920
Massachusetts: 273,850
Rhode Island: 96,700
Connecticut: 147,760
New York: 884,660
New Jersey: 194,130
Pennsylvania: 1,114,740
Delaware: 85,780
Maryland: 301,530
Through Multistate Conservation Grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and jointly administered with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, a new study released by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) digs deeper into the USFWS ’22 to show the growing economic influence of recreational fishing in America. The new Sportfishing in America report shows that industry contributions continue to grow, now generating more than $230.5 billion annually for the U.S. economy and supporting 1.1 million jobs nationwide. Additionally, the industry contributes $70 billion in salaries and wages, reinforcing its role as a vital economic force.
“Recreational fishing remains a significant driver of the U.S. economy, as evidenced by these latest figures,” said ASA President and CEO Glenn Hughes, adding “With over one in six Americans participating each year, and overall spending totaling almost $100 billion on equipment, licenses, outings, and related expenses, recreational fishing serves as an economic cornerstone for many communities, particularly in rural and coastal regions.”
Beyond its economic impact, Hughes said the report also highlights the industry’s role in conservation. Through a federal excise tax on fishing tackle and motorboat fuel, along with license sales and charitable contributions, the sportfishing community contributes $2 billion annually to angler and boater access, fisheries conservation, and habitat restoration efforts.
According to the ASA, this data is instrumental in shaping fisheries management at local, state, and federal levels. As policymakers make decisions regarding conservation and fisheries management, it is essential to recognize the industry’s economic contributions and ensure continued investment in clean water, abundant fisheries and access to both.
The full 2024 report includes updated economic impact figures for each state and every Congressional district in the country, including those within The Fisherman’s regional coverage area below.
