A study from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) finds that fishing participation among Americans aged 6 and above reached a record 57.9 million in 2024, slightly higher than the 57.7 million in 2023 and still well above pre-pandemic levels.

In 2019, fishing participation was 50.1 million, increasing to 54.7 million in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.

The 57.9 million fishing participants represented an all-time high of 19 percent of the U.S. population.

The study, conducted in collaboration with the Outdoor Foundation, also highlights ongoing challenges for the industry, including high participant churn and the strategic importance of engaging youth. Notably, 85 percent of current fishing participants began before the age of 12. However, retention drops sharply after age 18, with female youth exiting the activity at an 11 percent greater rate than their male counterparts.

“Retaining newcomers remains an integral part of fishing’s continued success,” said RBFF President and CEO Dave Chanda. “New anglers are younger, from all walks of life and digitally connected. The industry must remind newcomers about great fishing experiences, highlight convenient water access, provide beginner educational resources, emphasize the social aspects of fishing and boating, and recommend cost-effective equipment.”

According to the report, family and social connections are a principal motivator for new anglers in 2024, alongside the appeal of outdoor recreation and relaxation.

Among the participation data in the report:

  • In 2024, one million Americans tried fishing for the first time, representing nine percent of total participants, up from seven percent in 2023.
  • Over 43 million Americans aged six and older went freshwater fishing in 2024, marking a third consecutive year of stability.
  • After hitting 15 million anglers for the first time in 2023, saltwater fishing participation grew slightly to 15.1 million in 2024.
  • For the second year in a row, fly fishing topped 8 million participants.
  • In 2024, three million women went fishing, the highest number of female participants on record.
  • In 2024, seven million men went fishing, the highest number of male participants on record.
  • Over 5.5 million Black Americans aged 6 and over fished in 2024, the highest number since activity tracking began in 2007.
  • Fishing participation by Hispanics increased by over three million in a decade, increasing from 3.3 million in 2014 to 6.6 million in 2024.

Regarding churn, the report notes a loss of 16.6 million anglers (representing a 23 percent churn rate) in 2024, compared with 18 percent five years ago and 12 percent a decade prior. Additionally, participation among more frequent anglers continues to decline, with only 32 percent fishing monthly or more in 2024, down from 37 percent ten years ago. These metrics highlight ongoing retention challenges for the sector.

All participation statistics are from a nationwide study conducted in the 2024 calendar year by Sports Marketing Surveys USA (SMS). A total of 18,000 online interviews were conducted.

The full report is available at TakeMeFishing.Org/SpecialReport.