According to an annual report conducted by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and the Outdoor Foundation, titled “2023 Special Report on Fishing,” in 2022, 54.5 million Americans age 6 and older went fishing. That’s a 4 percent increase from 2021. This number is outstanding, but what helped to bump it up is the increase in the women’s segment of the fishing world.
According to the report, in 2022, 19.8 million females went fishing, which is the highest the numbers have been since the annual report started in 2007. In the last decade, at least 4 million more females have gone fishing.
When you delve into the section on female participation, these numbers jump out:
1. Three in 10 females were under the age of 25; 17% were between 25 and 34; 15% were between 35 and 44; 13% were between 45 and 54 and 11% were between 55 and 64.
2. There’s a diversity in the group of female anlgers: 14% Black, 5% Asian, 14% Hispanic and 66% White.
That’s a great representation among demographics, and marketing people love to see the age ranges between 25 to 54 for so many reasons. Usually, women are in the workforce by the time they’re 25 and by the time they’re 54, they have more disposable income – having raised families and maybe even started planning for retirement. But one of the best things about having this wonderful range of ages among female anglers is how women generally are – we are not particularly parochial about fishing. Most of the time, for us, it’s a social event and we don’t mind inviting friends and family to tag along.
Also, the survey found that 40% of first-time participants in fishing were female. On average, they went fishing 15 times. These numbers mean a lot more than just an increase in bodies on the water. It means this lifestyle is appealing to more and more females, from 6 to old ladyhood.
It won’t surprise you to know that most of the females who fish live on or near the coasts of this country, with the highest percentage residing in the South Atlantic region (Florida).
Well done, ladies. Well done, moms and dads who take your kids out fishing. I also want to congratulate the women’s organizations that focus on fishing, such as Wisconsin Women Fish, Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing, Sisters on the Fly, Casting for Recovery, United Women on the Fly and one that’s recently come to my attention — Ladies Midwest Meet Up. The report did not mention a correlation between the female increase in fishing with the popularity of these groups and many others (including state fish and game agencies hosting women’s events), but I believe these groups have contributed to the overall upward trend in women’s and girls’ participation in angling.
On Fridays, at “Women’s Outdoor News,” we feature fishing topics. Please consider signing up for our updates so you can be informed about the excitement happening in the world of angling. If you want to find an organization to join for fishing, please download our free PDF titled “Shooting, Hunting, Fishing and Adventure Organizations for Women and Girls.”
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
