Yakrods field reference
Current participation and outing data for writers, anglers, and outdoor businesses. Every number is linked to the original source.
Last updated October 9, 2026. Latest fishing-participation figures cover 2024.
The short version
Recreational fishing reached a record 57.9 million participants in 2024. Most of those anglers fished fewer than once a month, which puts the real story in the details: useful gear, easier access, and a better day on the water all matter when a casual trip has to earn a place on the calendar.
Yakrods built this reference for anyone who needs solid numbers about the U.S. fishing market. It stays focused on what the sources actually measure, without dressing up a number to make a point.
Participation and outings
Use the permanent links on each figure when you need to cite a specific statistic.
57.9M
Fishing participation reached a record high in 2024, with 19% of Americans age six and over taking part.
Source: RBFF and Outdoor Foundation, 2025 Special Report on Fishing, reporting 2024 participation. ↗#anglers43M+
More than 43 million Americans age six and over fished freshwater in 2024, holding a 14% national participation rate for a third straight year.
Source: RBFF and Outdoor Foundation, 2025 Special Report on Fishing, reporting 2024 participation. ↗#freshwater639M
Freshwater anglers averaged 15 outings in 2024, adding up to 639 million trips nationwide.
Source: RBFF and Outdoor Foundation, 2025 Special Report on Fishing, reporting 2024 participation. ↗#freshwater-outings15.1M
Saltwater fishing reached its highest recorded participation level in 2024, more than three million participants above a decade earlier.
Source: RBFF and Outdoor Foundation, 2025 Special Report on Fishing, reporting 2024 participation. ↗#saltwater8M+
For the second consecutive year, more than eight million Americans participated in fly fishing.
Source: RBFF and Outdoor Foundation, 2025 Special Report on Fishing, reporting 2024 participation. ↗#fly-fishing68%
Most anglers were occasional participants in 2024. The remaining 32% fished at least once a month.
Source: RBFF and Outdoor Foundation, 2025 Special Report on Fishing, reporting 2024 participation. ↗#frequency16.9M
In 2024, 16.9 million people began or returned to fishing, while 16.6 million participants left the activity.
Source: RBFF and Outdoor Foundation, 2025 Special Report on Fishing, reporting 2024 participation. ↗#retention$696.7B
Outdoor recreation contributed $696.7 billion to U.S. GDP in 2024, equal to 2.4% of the national economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, 2024 data. ↗#outdoor-economyHow to use this page
This page combines two distinct data sets. Fishing participation figures come from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and Outdoor Foundation’s annual Special Report on Fishing, which reports people age six and over. Outdoor-economy figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and measure economic activity, not angler participation.
Suggested citation
Yakrods. “U.S. Fishing Statistics: 2024 Participation & Outings.” Updated October 9, 2026. https://yakrods.com/fishing-statistics
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