Reference desk
Key participation, frequency, saltwater, and spending figures for writers, researchers, and anglers. Every number below links to its original source.
Last updated August 21, 2026. Source data ranges from 2022 to 2025.
At a glance
Participation remains broad across the United States. The latest industry report counted 57 million people ages 6 and older who went fishing at least once in 2025. At the same time, most anglers went fewer than a dozen times, which puts the focus on keeping each trip practical, comfortable, and worth repeating.
Use the figures below with their stated dates and survey definitions. The participation report and federal recreation survey measure different populations, so they offer context rather than a direct year-to-year comparison.
57 million
This measure includes people ages 6 and older and covers any fishing participation during the year.
Source: Outdoor Industry Association and American Sportfishing Association, 2026 Special Report on Fishing (2025 data)Under 6%
The share of weekly anglers was about 8% a decade earlier, showing that regular participation has become less common.
Source: Outdoor Industry Association and American Sportfishing Association, 2026 Special Report on Fishing (2025 data)32%
Occasional participation rose from 22% a decade earlier, making the return trip an important part of the fishing experience.
Source: Outdoor Industry Association and American Sportfishing Association, 2026 Special Report on Fishing (2025 data)68%
Most people who fished did so on a limited number of days, rather than making it a weekly routine.
Source: Outdoor Industry Association and American Sportfishing Association, 2026 Special Report on Fishing (2025 data)15.5 million
Saltwater participation rose 3% year over year to the highest total tracked in the report.
Source: Outdoor Industry Association and American Sportfishing Association, 2026 Special Report on Fishing (2025 data)183 million
Saltwater outings increased 2% year over year, even as freshwater participation held steady.
Source: Outdoor Industry Association and American Sportfishing Association, 2026 Special Report on Fishing (2025 data)39.9 million
The federal survey uses a different age range and methodology than the 2025 participation report, so the two totals should not be compared as a year-to-year change.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (2022 data)$99.4 billion
The federal estimate includes trip-related spending, equipment, licenses, land leasing, and other fishing-related costs.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (2022 data)Methodology and sources
The 2025 participation and frequency figures come from the 2026 Special Report on Fishing, produced by the Outdoor Industry Association in partnership with the American Sportfishing Association. That report measures people ages 6 and older.
The participation and spending figures for 2022 come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Survey, which measures people ages 16 and older. Both sources are retained here by name and date so each figure can be checked in its original context.
Cite this page
DGS Fishing Wild. “U.S. Recreational Fishing Statistics.” Updated August 21, 2026. Link to the page or to an individual statistic using its heading above.