Fishing is LOSING Popularity?

[Matt Fly]

I told my self, I just don't see it in Texas, I see 1000's of boats every weekend, and no way fishing is declining in Texas.

Well, according to all the TPW web sites, the numbers in Tx, the numbers of  fishing licenses sold have decline for the most part.

As for the amount of money being spent, theres no decline there.

I'd have to agree with the thought process of the internet, Playstations, and modern technology being some contributing factors.

What has increased over the years is the amount of families that now own water toys such as jet ski's and such.     I don't see a decline in lake usage at all, maybe why I was hesitant on believing the numbers.     The people are still at the lakes, just not fishing as much.

I concur with Chris and others, if our numbers drop, some special interest groups will have their say someday.

Matt

[roadwarrior]

I would like to address the political implications:

Far fewer people participate in hunting activities than fishing. There is no "catch & release." The images of hunting portrayed by the opposition includes graphic and usually morbid depiction of the sport. Even those of us that hunt cannot argue that this is in fact the opitimy of a "blood sport." However, hunting is not generally being targeted for extinction.

I will edit this post if some knows the correct percentages, but for sake of argument, I recall figures something like these:

Less than 10% of the U.S. population hunts. 15% of the population opposes hunting. But here is the key: 75% don't care! The 75% don't necessarily support hunting, but they DON'T oppose it either. Most hunters understand that their sport doesn't need a "killer image." We "harvest" animals to "manage" these resources. Specifically, most hunters no longer strap their kill to the hood of their truck.

Fishing, I think, faces even fewer restrictions. The recent push by PETA portraying "daddy torturing poor little fish" has, for the most part, backfired on them. I DO NOT suggest we let down our guard, but this campaign was simply assinine.

I don't know what the "real" numbers are, but I suspect "avid" anglers represent far less than 10% of the population. "Occasional" fisherman might push this number to 25 or 30%, but I doubt it. Again, it's not the opposition that we should be most concerned about. We must do what we can so as not to alienate the vast majority of citizens that "don't care."

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey Fellas I don't know about demographics, or lobbying or supporting the tackle industry, that stuff is all beyond me. That picture of a grandfather and grandson does it all for me.

My daughter is away at college and I know her interests have grown in other directions and our fishing days are over. But we had them and thats what matters

Here in PA the trout fisherman feel it is a right to catch a fish because they paid for their liciences. Overstocking and the stocking of diseased stock has hurt a lot of bodies of water. One stocking was of fish with this disease called "Ich" and it spread through the whole lake. POPULARITY?

 I also think What ESPN did with the classic weigh in hurt the sport. Big Arena,Fireworks and fish held out of the water for way too long. It was like giving a sniper a clear shot! All the anti fishing sentiment that generated AMONG PEOPLE WHO NEVER FISHED

Maybe a down slide is among the normal way of things A rethinking of our sport and how it is presented

 I like to take kids fishing and I also work with a lot of people who for one reason or other are working thier way back into society. I take em out and stick a rod in their hands and many take the sport up.

So it is growing , maybe not as fast as the "Industry" desires though

my.02

[RoLo]

Nice post Kent, and I concur

Roger

[Banor]

Matt,

Michigan is in the same boat as Texas.  Our license sales are declining so much so that it's hurting the DNR to the point that they are raising the license fees.  Consequently less people will buy licenses.  Consequently the budget will drop.  Consequently they will have to raise the fees at the launches.  Consequently less people will fish so they wont need licenses.  

Do you see where this is going?

B

[Nick B]

New Mexico is doing the same thing too

[Banor]

Nearly forgot... I must strongly agree with RW on the political implications.  At the same time a few less people pounding my favorite lakes sounds attractive.  Hmmm... I believe that is a classic conundrum.

I would add that those 75% will vote yes on an anti angler/hunter bill if a crafty politician slips in something that appeals to those 75% who would otherwise not care.

B

[Nick B]

I heard a rumor that they are making that a movie along the same lines as Talladega nights but with a BassMasters kind of theme. I dont what Talledaga Nights did for NASCAR, but a movie like this could help in increasing the sports popularity if not for a few months.

[Banor]

We lost Angler's to Iraq. There was a thread on the internet sometime ago where our servicemen and women where shown fishing overthere. How many troops and support personel do we have over there? Plus all the natural disasters and man made ones could explain some of the appearance of the decline.

While I fully support and empathize with our troops because I am one and never went to Iraq but spent my share of time in a sand box, I think that percentage is low.  I do know quite a few anglers who have spent their share of time over there, but the percentage of them are low.  

Our fellow anglers will bounce back from natural disasters.  Once an angler, always an angler.

I think an above poster hit it on the head.  The youth these days are just too into other things that have nothing to do with the outdoors, let alone fishing/hunting.  As the amount of rural area continues to be consumed by urbanization you will see the number of youth who ever experience the outdoors to further decline.

Sign of the times I'm afraid.  It's something we can vow to change and put our best effort into it but I dont see it turning around.

B

[flukenLizard]

I think that where im from that other types of fishing are losing popularity, but bass fishing is definatly taking off. It seems like everyone that works in the oilfeild with me loves to fishi for bass. My wife thinks its retarded for me to drive 5 hours to Amistad to not catch more than a couple of keeper bass. but i dont care. Ive got a Playstation and the only game i have on it is a fishing game. I personally dont care if i catch 1 fish or 100 fish as lang as i get to spend time on the water with my 2 best friends (my dad and my brother in law) I was raised fishing and "The good lord willing" my kids boy or girl will be the same way. my wife wasnt raised to do anything except hunt. If you were to tell me that i had to choose between hunting and fishing STAND BACK BOYS cause theres gonna be alot of guns and camo for sale.

I love to fish it has brought me closer to my dad and for a short time, My late grandpa who could catch anything using a saftey pin and pocket lint. And im sure that i can speak for everyone here when i say

"FISH ON!!!"

            Derek