InTheBite

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Featured Stories
    • General News
    • Captain of the Year
    • Tournament Results
    • First Builds
    • Splash Reports
    • Old Salts Rule
    • Tackle Tips
    • Dock Talk
    • Crew Records
    • Conservation
  • Tournaments
    • Calendar
    • Captain of the Year
    • Champion’s Cup
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Subscriptions
    • Back Issues
    • Shirts
    • Hats & Visors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Release Rulers
  • Classifieds
  • Job Board
  • Contact
    • Contact InTheBite
    • InTheBite Media Kit
  • Log in

Canceled Plans, More Time Brought New Wave of Boaters, Anglers in 2020, Study Finds

January 7, 2021 By InTheBite Digital Editor

boat dock

Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 16, 2020—With COVID-19 transforming Americans’ recreational habits, a new study from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) has found that millions of new or returning participants have taken up fishing & boating. Particular increases were seen among nontraditional participants, signaling the activities’ increasing appeal among new audiences.

Titled Who’s On Board: Keeping New Anglers & Boaters Hooked, the study is a comprehensive look at America’s newcomers to the water and how COVID-19 is influencing the future of outdoor recreation. It was conducted by RBFF to support its Take Me Fishing brand.

Several factors were listed when it came to individuals becoming new boaters and anglers. Among the reasons listed for trying boating or fishing were limited entertainment during the lockdown, additional time and moving closer to the water. Some individuals also reported buying a boat with canceled vacation funds.

The study calculated there were more than 17 million new or reactivated anglers and boaters in 2020 with more than seven million were new anglers and just over five million were new boaters. Males make up the majority of new anglers at 59 percent but the number of new female anglers isn’t far behind at 41 percent. Among all new anglers, 73 percent are married.

About two out of three new anglers stated they had an interest in fishing but hadn’t acted on it yet with TV ads, social media, magazines and blogs being major factors in trying fishing. Out of those that started fishing for the first time, 76 percent purchased a fishing license and three percent spent over $1,000 to fish, not including gear purchased.

Saltwater fishing made up 33 percent of the type of fishing done by new anglers. For new anglers, returning anglers and established anglers, relaxation and peacefulness were cited as top reasons to be on the water.

“Social distancing has undoubtedly made many of our routine leisure activities inaccessible, but it also led many of us to discover new ways of enjoying our free time and practicing self-care during the pandemic,” said Stephanie Vatalaro, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for RBFF. “With all the uncertainty that 2020 has brought, fishing & boating provide a host of benefits including peace and relaxation, quality time with family and loved ones and even simply the calming effect of nature.”

Key findings from the report include:

  • Millions of Americans took up fishing or boating as new or returning participants during summer 2020.
  • New anglers and boaters are younger, more urban and more diverse. They are also highly socially connected.
  • Common reasons for getting started included canceled vacations and summer plans, more flexible schedules while working from home and inspiration from family and friends.
  • New anglers overcame a variety of barriers including inexperience, lack of equipment and not having a fishing companion.
  • Benefits people liked most about fishing & boating included the calmness of nature, enjoyment and mental wellness.
  • Newcomers overwhelmingly plan to continue fishing & boating. Among boaters, 94% say they’ll continue, and among anglers, 90% plan to continue in the future.
  • Personal motivations for continued participation include three key elements of fishing & boating: social connection with loved ones, the challenge of the activities and the connection to nature they offer.

For the full report, visit takemefishing.org.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

    Filed Under: Featured Stories, Fishing, News Tagged With: 2020 fishing report, fishing report, new anglers, new boaters, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation

    Recent News

    SiriusXM Marine’s Fish Mapping service

    Fish Mapping: Now Available on Simrad & Furuno

    SiriusXM Marine’s Fish Mapping service is now available on Simrad and Furuno displays!  Whether you’re competing in a tournament, out fishing for fun, or taking clients on a charter trip, Fish Mapping provides the information you need to help get you … [Read More...]

    lunatico effie may

    Champion’s Cup & COTY Updates

    Champion's Cup Update April 19, 2021 Team Lunatico's 63' Titan Effie Mae is moving up in the ranks for both the Champion's Cup and Captain of the Year with their first place win during this weekend's White Marlin Roundup. The win awarded them a full … [Read More...]

    New Texas State Record Bluefin Tuna Weighing 876 Pounds

    Friday, April 16, 2021, Thomas J. Hilton, www.HiltonsOffshore.com—A week ago last year in early April 2020, 4 Texas boats with Hilton's subscribers aboard each landed a bluefin tuna weighing between 599 pounds to 820 pounds (new Texas state record). T … [Read More...]

    furuno

    NavNet TZtouch from Furuno

    If you missed the Palm Beach International Boat Show or didn't make it by the Furuno tent then check out the video below to see what was on display and to learn a little more about the Furuno products. Braden Shoemaker, Furuno SE Regional Manager, … [Read More...]

    vaquero team

    Vaquero’s Pacific Sailfish Single-Day Release Record

    The fishing in Costa Rica has been hotter than the heat index on a black sand beach and during the past few months the fleet out of Los Sueños has seen a quite a few 30+ bite days. A week prior to Leg III of the Signature Triple Crown Series, Capt. … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Sign Up for the InTheBite Newsletter


    Be the first to hear about the latest Sportfishing News, Products, and Services!

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite Magazine Current Cover

    Our latest issue is hitting the docks now! Be sure to subscribe to the hottest bluewater mag on the market. Purchase or Subscribe »

    Upcoming Tournaments

    Tue 20

    Hawk’s Nest White Marlin Shootout

    April 18 - April 21
    Wed 21

    Ed Dwyer’s Otherside Invitational

    April 21 - April 25
    Thu 22

    Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament

    April 22 - April 25
    Wed 28

    The Shootout: Production vs. Custom

    April 28 - May 1
    Sat 01

    MONGO Offshore Challenge

    May 1 - September 30

    View More…

    InTheBite Champion’s Cup

    InTheBite Champions Cup Logo

    New for 2021, the Champion’s Cup is an optional paid entry with a winner-takes-all prize format for teams who want to up the stakes in each division utilizing our longstanding tournament scoring formula.

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings Logo

    View the current standings for InTheBite's Captain of the Year Cup... Leaderboard »

    News

    • Fish Mapping: Now Available on Simrad & Furuno

      Fish Mapping: Now Available on Simrad & Furuno

      SiriusXM Marine’s Fish Mapping service is now available on Simrad and Furuno displays!  Whether you’re competing in a tournament, out fishing for fun, or taking clients on a charter trip, Fish Mapping provides the information you need to help get you to the spots where fish are most likely to be located, saving you time and fuel.  In addition to all... [Read More...]

    • Champion's Cup & COTY Updates

      Champion's Cup & COTY Updates

      Champion's Cup Update April 19, 2021 Team Lunatico's 63' Titan Effie Mae is moving up in the ranks for both the Champion's Cup and Captain of the Year with their first place win during this weekend's White Marlin Roundup. The win awarded them a full 500 points putting them neck and neck with Uno Mas within the Champion's Cup International Division... [Read More...]

    • New Texas State Record Bluefin Tuna Weighing 876 Pounds

      New Texas State Record Bluefin Tuna Weighing 876 Pounds

      Friday, April 16, 2021, Thomas J. Hilton, www.HiltonsOffshore.com—A week ago last year in early April 2020, 4 Texas boats with Hilton's subscribers aboard each landed a bluefin tuna weighing between 599 pounds to 820 pounds (new Texas state record). They were landed off of surface structures shown on www.HiltonsOffshore.com. Sea surface water temperature is critical this time of year, with fish... [Read More...]

    • NavNet TZtouch from Furuno

      NavNet TZtouch from Furuno

      If you missed the Palm Beach International Boat Show or didn't make it by the Furuno tent then check out the video below to see what was on display and to learn a little more about the Furuno products. Braden Shoemaker, Furuno SE Regional Manager, breaks down the different NavNet TZtouch systems and what they can offer on your next... [Read More...]

    • Youth Fishing Trip Set for June 

      Youth Fishing Trip Set for June 

      West Palm Beach Fishing Club, Wednesday, April 7, 2021—Do you know a young angler who is interested in taking their saltwater fishing skills to the next level? Well, the West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s (WPBFC) charitable foundation has a program ideally suited for just such a youngster. The S.A.L.T.Y. (Saltwater Angling Lessons & Techniques for Youth) program is designed to... [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2021 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.