Saltwater Angler Participation Numbers and Trends

Saltwater Angler Participation Numbers & Trends

Frank Peterson, Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) President & CEO TRCP Saltwater Media Summit October 19, 2012

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Presentation Notes

Hello and Good Morning Thank you for having me here today

• U.S. Fishing Participation – USFWS Survey – RBFF Special Report – Fishing License Sales

• Saltwater Fishing Participation • RBFF’s Role

Overview

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Presentation Notes

I’d like to first go over the recent surveys and data on U.S. fishing participation. Then I’ll drill down into the saltwater segment, and RBFF’s role in promoting fishing and boating overall

Fishing Participation

USFWS Survey: Fishing participation up 11% since 2006 (reversing what has been declining participation levels in fishing over the past 10 years)

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Recently released survey from the USFWS shows the number of anglers grew by 11 percent since 2006 (reversing what had been declining participation levels in fishing over the past 10 years). Boating participation is also increasing… Up 10% to 83 million in 2011

Fishing Participants, 2010-2011

The RBFF Special Report on Fishing & Boating revealed that for the first time in several years, fishing added more participants (8.8 million) than it lost (eight million), bringing the total of Americans who fished to 46.2 million (or 16.2 percent of the population).

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Presentation Notes

Our own research shows a positive trend in participation as well. And perhaps more importantly: Special Report on Fishing & Boating revealed that for the first time in several years, fishing added more participants (8.8 million) than it lost (eight million), bringing the total of Americans who fished to 46.2 million (or 16.2 percent of the population).

Fishing License Sales

The USFWS is seeing the biggest increase in years in fishing licenses: up nearly 1 million in 2010. (NOTE: The number of licensed anglers has not declined since 2007.)

Presenter

Presentation Notes

These survey results are supported by fishing license sales data. The USFWS is seeing the biggest increase in years in fishing licenses: up nearly 1 million in 2010. NOTE - The number of licensed anglers has not declined since 2007.

Saltwater Fishing

12 Million Saltwater Fishing Participants in 2011

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Special Report on Fishing & Boating (conducted annually in partnership with the Outdoor Foundation) Saltwater fishing is the second most popular type of fishing, including 12 million participants, or 4.2 percent of the population. Up slightly from 11.8 million in 2010 Almost 37 percent live in the southern states that border the Atlantic Ocean from Maryland to Florida.

Saltwater Annual Outings

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In 2011, saltwater fishing participants made 153 million annual outings — either close to home or on an overnight trip. Nearly three-fourths of participants made an average of one outing per month or less. The average number of annual outings per saltwater fishing participant – 12.8 days

Saltwater Demographics

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More males than females participate in saltwater fishing (68% vs. 31%) Saltwater fishing participants tend to be Caucasian males over the age of 45. They are the wealthiest when compared to participants in the other categories with 32 percent earning more than $100,000 per year. Most are college graduates (26%) or have had some college (25%)

Saltwater Participation Life Cycle

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The participation rate among different age groups varies as individuals age and their lives are shaped by their environment and life experiences. A one-year snapshot of saltwater fishing participation helps describe this life cycle of participation. Unlike many other outdoor activities, saltwater fishing participation increases among adults ages 25 to 44, rising higher than participation among ages six to 24.

First Time Saltwater Participants

8.4% of saltwater fishing participants tried the sport for the first time in 2011.

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8.4 percent of saltwater fishing participants tried the sport for the first time in 2011 For comparison: Freshwater – 4.7% tried the sport for the first time in 2011 Fly Fishing – 14.4% tried the sport for the first time in 2011

Saltwater Travel

44.4% of saltwater fishing participants travel overnight to participate in saltwater fishing.

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Saltwater fishing participants can travel anywhere from a few minutes to a few days from home to go fishing. Surveying the time saltwater participants traveled on their last in-season saltwater fishing trip reveals how far they usually travel and how often fishing leads them on more distant excursions. 44 percent travel overnight to participate in saltwater fishing

RBFF’s Role • Take Me Fishing™ National Campaign • TakeMeFishing.org & Mobile Tools • State Boating & Fishing Marketing Program • Youth Education

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Our role in all of this…. to increase participation in fishing and boating. Under the Take Me Fishing brand, we promote both saltwater and freshwater fishing through our various campaigns and programs. At a high level: TMF campaign – advertising, marketing, PR, social media, email Targets - family outdoors, outdoor enthusiast, lapsed/occasional TMF.org and mobile tools (mobile site and boat ramp app) State Programs Youth Education

For more information, please contact RBFF at [email protected].

Presenter

Presentation Notes

In closing… We’re finalizing a new, 3-year Strategic Plan – consumer engagement, state engagement, stakeholder engagement, leverage technology Look forward to working with media to increase awareness of our programs and resources, and to continue increasing fishing participation Thank you!

mailto:[email protected]

Saltwater Angler Participation Numbers and Trends

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