Why the bad economy is good for fishing?

Written by Tim Shuff Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:17    
   
In bad economic times, more people fish. Or so suggests the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) who today announced that fishing license sales are up 8 percent over last year.

The foundation says the “sales increase mirrors recreational fishing's heyday in the 1960s and 1970s.”  As of September 1, 2009, state fish and wildlife agencies reported a 7.7 percent positive change in the number of licenses sold year-to-date compared to the same months last year (January - July 2009 vs. January - July 2008). The same states also saw a seven percent increase in the number of licenses sold in July 2009 compared with July 2008.

ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman said: "Not since the 1970s have we seen a single-year increase in fishing license sales like we've seen so far in 2009"

RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson said: "Reasons for the 2009 license sales increases range from a slow economy, which may allow people more time to engage in outdoor activities, to recreational fishing being a lower cost alternative to other forms of recreation."

If this is true, then the growth should be even higher for kayak fishing.  Have you been fishing more since the economic downturn?   

I've haven't worked in a year. So yes I have had more time to fish.  Andy

Sorry to hear that Andy.  I'm on the same boat here!

I have definitely been fishing more since the economy went down...

Probably the main reason is that the wife really has begun to appreciate the value of the fish that I bring home....each fish is a meal that we don't have to buy, and therefore $$ saved!!!

Not looking forward to the end of RockFish season....maybe I can learn where to go and how to catch/cook sanddabs and crabs!!!
 

Sincerely,

Jim

The sales of License may have increased,
Unfortunately the average angler has spent far less on tackle and suplies and with the closing of the ocean and river salmon and reduced areas to fish for rockfish we have had to layoff half our sales staff and we lost 40% of our sales for this year over last.
Good news - We had a huge increase in the kayaking department here in Fresno.

Congrats Eric!

Wow yackhopper I'm terribly sorry to hear that.  Hopefully this economy gets better soon.  Andy

BigJim if I added up all the money I've spent on fishing fillets would be a hundred dollars a pound. 

Yeah you right Andy!!!!

But the wife still hasn't figured that math out yet!!!
 

I guess when I used to release all my fish I spent more money than I do now , so I guess they're sort of free.  My Russian wife wouldn't have that release stuff though.  For our second date we went fishing and she made me keep a five pound bass.  That's a cardinal sin by the way.  She ate the whole thing by herself too.

It's not helping the economy that I have so much crap acquired in my garage that I won't be even be buying hooks for the next ten years. 

The economy may be increasing the number of fishing licenses being sold, but with more fisherman fishing to put food on the table instead of just for recreation i bet the fishing regulation violations are up with people keeping what they catch to eat.

Sorry to hear about the layoffs.

I have been laid off for about three months now and it makes me sick to watch the savings going down, but glad I have some saved up.

However, if something doesn't come up soon, I will be selling all my fishing stuff (including the Yak) just to pay bills.

Might have to sell the home as well and take a loss.

I have also been fishing much less since the layoff, not more, and with the season almost over, it's gonna be a long winter at Stoggie's


 

I hear this story every time I go to the park with my kid.  I see dads at the park during the week in the middle of the day because they are laid off.  So sorry to here that Stogie.  What's your profession maybe someone can keep and eye out for you?  My wife's a nurse or we would have already lost everything, since the dealerships are going out of business and I was a service manager.  Andy

Sorry to hear about the layoffs.

I have been laid off for about three months now and it makes me sick to watch the savings going down, but glad I have some saved up.

However, if something doesn't come up soon, I will be selling all my fishing stuff (including the Yak) just to pay bills.

Might have to sell the home as well and take a loss.

I have also been fishing much less since the layoff, not more, and with the season almost over, it's gonna be a long winter at Stoggie's

Hang in there Stoggie!  Hope you don't have to sell the house.  I had to withdraw money from my 401k to weather this economy storm!