21.3 million
women went fishing in the U.S. in 2024
Women represented 37% of all fishing participants, the highest recorded participation level for women in the report series.
Source: 2025 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 2024.
Last updated September 1, 2026
At A Glance
Key statistics
These figures come from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and Outdoor Foundation’s 2025 Special Report on Fishing. Each statistic below refers to U.S. participation in 2024.
57.9 million
Americans ages 6 and older went fishing in 2024
That equals a 19% participation rate, matching the highest level recorded by the report.
Source: 2025 Special Report on Fishing5.1 million
people tried fishing for the first time in 2024
First-time participants made up 9% of all anglers, and 39% of them were female.
Source: 2025 Special Report on Fishing43 million+
Americans went freshwater fishing in 2024
Freshwater fishing accounted for 71% of all fishing outings reported that year.
Source: 2025 Special Report on Fishing15.1 million
Americans went saltwater fishing in 2024
It was the highest saltwater participation figure recorded in the report.
Source: 2025 Special Report on Fishing8 million+
Americans went fly fishing in 2024
Fly fishing stayed above 8 million participants for the second consecutive year.
Source: 2025 Special Report on FishingNearly 26 million
Americans considered fishing in 2024 without going
11.3 million of those prospective anglers were female.
Source: 2025 Special Report on Fishing4 in 5
anglers usually fished with other people in 2024
Only one in five typically fished alone, underscoring how often the experience is shared.
Source: 2025 Special Report on FishingWhy It Matters
More women are part of the fishing story.
Fishing is often a shared, social way to spend time outside. With 21.3 million women participating in 2024 and women making up nearly four in ten first-time anglers, the data shows a broad and growing 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 2025 Special Report on Fishing, a yearly research project from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and the Outdoor Foundation. The report was published in June 2025 and reports participation through calendar year 2024.
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 September 1, 2026, https://saltychick.store/fishing-statistics.
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