For the first time in years, fishing participation in the
U.S. is up, according to the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation
(RBFF), due in large part to women taking up the sport.

A recently released study by the RBFF and The Outdoor
Foundation shows that fishing and boating are considered among the most
important “gateway” sporting activities that lead people to pursuer other
outdoor recreation opportunities. According to the study, this is particularly true
with youth. Additionally, an influx of women participating in fishing helped
grow numbers for the first time in a decade.

The study, 2012 Special Report on Fishing and Boating, found
fishing to remains as one of the most popular recreational activities in the
U.S. and is growing. RBFF reports that fishing added 800,000 participants last
year for a total of 46.2 million Americans. Women and children 6 to 12 added
the most new participants, according to the study, in an unprecedented growth
for a typically male-dominated sport.

The interest groups attribute the growth to the family
friendly nature of the sport. “Families are searching to squeeze in quality
time with each other whenever and wherever they can,” RBFF vice president of
marketing and communications Leslie Nagao said. “Getting outdoors to fish and
boat is a great way to do this. That's one reason we believe women and younger
parents are taking up the sport in growing numbers.”

The report, now in its fourth year, details boating and
fishing participation by gender, age, ethnicity, income, education and
geographic region, helping the industry better understand its customers. RBFF
last week at Outdoor Retailer explained its vision to attract new consumers in
multi-generational and multi-cultural families.

“Increased participation leads to increased fishing
license sales and boat registration renewals, both key sources for funding
state fish and wildlife conservation,” Nagao said. “We hope to keep
the momentum going so the joys of fishing and boating can be experienced by
everyone for generations to come.”

According to the report, 16.2 percent of Americans fished in
2011, up 0.8 million participants from 2010 despite 8 million leaving the
sport. Number of fishing “outings” decreased from an average of 20.4 days on
the water to 18.2 days in 2012. Fly fishing had the greatest interest among
newcomers. Households with children have higher levels of participation and
saltwater fishing holds the interest of the most adolescents surveyed.

According to the survey, boating participation decreased
from 18.1 percent of the population in 2010 to 17.8 percent in 2011, but the
average number of outings per boater increased from 13.2 annual outings to 14
annual outings in 2011.

The methodology and full study is available online at www.RBFF.org.