Economic Benefits
The
of Sportfishing
SO HOW MANY ANGLERS ARE THERE?
Fishing is enjoyed by people of all ages. No one is ever too young or too old to enjoy a day on the water enjoying nature and catching fish. Based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) 2011 survey, there are 33 million anglers in the United States over the age of 16. Previous surveys by the USFWS indicated there was one youth angler (under 16 years of age) for every 2.5 adults over 16 years of age who fished.
If this ratio still holds, there are 13 million youths who fished in 2011, for a total of approximately 46 million anglers. Recent examinations of state fishing license records indicate many anglers will not buy a license every year.
Possibly one-third to one-half of people who consider themselves anglers may not be able to fish in a given year due to a variety of reasons.
Overall, ASA estimates approximately 60 million Americans may consider themselves to be anglers, regardless of buying a license in any one given year.
NEAR THE SANTEE-COOPER LAKES in South Carolina, Strawberry Reservoir in Utah, Lake Okeechobee in Florida, the White River in Arkansas and countless other lakes, rivers and seaside areas across the U.S., there are many communities that depend on the dollars from recreational anglers and related tourism for many of their citizen’s livelihoods. From direct product and service providers such as marinas, fishing guides and tackle shops to the businesses that help anglers enjoy their experience on the water such as restaurants, gas stations and hotels, the $1,441 spent annually by the average American angler in 2011 supported jobs that generated $35 billion in salaries and wages. Examine anglers’ expenditures and you’ll find that over half went to purchase food, lodging, transportation and other travel items. The money spent by companies and employees supporting anglers created an economic multiplier effect with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy in 2011.
4 • www.ASAfishing.org