21.1 million
women went fishing in the U.S. in 2025
Women represented 37% of all fishing participants, keeping women at the center of the modern fishing audience.
Source: 2026 Special Report on FishingU.S. Recreational Fishing
Women’s Fishing
Statistics
Current participation figures for women and recreational anglers in the United States. The newest available national report covers fishing activity through 2025.
Last updated October 1, 2026
At A Glance
Key statistics
These figures come from the American Sportfishing Association and Outdoor Industry Association’s 2026 Special Report on Fishing. Each statistic below refers to U.S. participation in 2025.
57 million
Americans ages 6 and older went fishing in 2025
Participation softened slightly from the prior year but remained well above the 50.1 million anglers recorded in 2019.
Source: 2026 Special Report on Fishing2.6 million
women went fishing for the first time in 2025
Newcomers skew younger, more female, and more diverse than the overall fishing population.
Source: 2026 Special Report on Fishing85%
of anglers also camp, hike, or walk for fitness
Fishing often sits inside a wider outdoor life, creating a natural overlap with trail, camp, and water-day apparel.
Source: 2026 Special Report on Fishing15.5 million
Americans went saltwater fishing in 2025
Saltwater participation rose 3% to the highest total the report has recorded.
Source: 2026 Special Report on Fishing68%
of anglers fished 11 times or fewer in 2025
The report shows a growing share of casual participants, making a welcoming, practical experience more important than ever.
Source: 2026 Special Report on FishingNearly 1 million
fewer anglers participated in 2025 than the year before
The report describes a 33% churn rate, showing the opportunity in helping new and casual anglers return.
Source: 2026 Special Report on Fishing32%
of anglers fished only 1 to 3 times in 2025
Occasional fishing is growing, while weekly participation has fallen to under 6% of anglers.
Source: 2026 Special Report on FishingWhy It Matters
More women are part of the fishing story.
Fishing is part of a broader outdoor life for many people. With 21.1 million women participating in 2025 and women making up more than one-third of all anglers, the data shows a large audience for gear, apparel, and experiences that feel at home around the water.
Sources And Methodology
How to use these figures
The statistics on this page are drawn from the 2026 Special Report on Fishing, an annual research project from the American Sportfishing Association and Outdoor Industry Association. The report covers participation through calendar year 2025.
Use the linked report for survey definitions, category details, and the full methodology. This page will be refreshed when the next national participation report is released.
Suggested citation: Salty Chick, “Women’s Fishing Statistics: U.S. Participation Data,” updated October 1, 2026, https://saltychick.store/fishing-statistics.
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