Gaille's research also shows the typical freshwater bass angler in the U.S. is 42 years old, earns a salary of $60,000 per year, and is married. He/she owns 14 rods/reels, a bass boat, and spends more than $2,300 on the sport each year.
Here are some other statistics revealed in Gaille's research:
* The economic impact of bass fishing in the U.S., including economic output and indirect contributions, is more than $115 billion each year. (Bassmaster)
* More than 828,000 jobs are directly supported in some way by the bass-fishing industry in the U.S. Anglers also generate more than $48 billion in retail sales because of their fishing activities. (Bassmaster)
* Since 2006, the number of anglers who say they are going bass fishing has risen by 11 percent. (Reel Adventure Fishing)
* To support his/her bass-fishing habits, the average angler spends more than $1,400 on fuel, hotel rooms, and restaurant meals over the course of a year. (American Sportfishing Association)
* The FLW Outdoors College Series has more than 700 registered bass clubs today, compared to just 90 a few years ago. There are 8,000 student anglers who compete in 17 annual events within the organization, which includes a national championship. (Gear Patrol)
* The Carhartt Bassmaster College Series has another 235 registered clubs and more than 1,100 registered student anglers. (Gear Patrol)
* About 1 percent of the 8,000 anglers who participate in college bass-fishing events eventually will make it into the professional ranks. Money is one of the biggest obstacles that student anglers face. You need a boat, your own equipment, and the financing necessary to get to and from tournaments. (Gear Patrol)
* In 2016, the nine pro Bassmaster Elite Series events had a $658,000 purse. Winners got to take home $100,000. Every angler placing through 52nd place won at least $10,000 from the event.
* The top 50 in the Bassmaster Elite Series earn between $80,000 and $100,000 annually. Many are struggling weekend fishermen who max out their credit cards to pay the entry fees... . (Gear Patrol)
Gaille contends that "bass fishing is one of the strongest sports-related industries in the U.S. Although the number of issued fishing licenses is going down, the number of people who count themselves as bass anglers is going up.
"To offset the cost of fishing licenses (reportedly as much as $47 a year in a few locations), some states have begun having free fishing days, weekends or weeks to encourage more local outdoor activities... .
"There is one issue of concern for the industry. The average age of an angler continues to rise. Although 1 in 6 anglers is a minor, the number of children aging into adulthood and maintaining their love of bass fishing is declining. If that trend continues, there could be millions of dollars in losses and thousands of jobs cut out of the economy.
"For the next 5 to 10 years, however," concluded Gaille, "expect the bass-fishing industry to continue growing at the 2 to 4 percent pace that it has experienced for the past decade."
No comments:
Post a Comment