Freshwater fishing remains a critical market segment within the boating industry. Recent data from Statistical Surveys confirms that the market continues to exhibit solid growth in the single digit range.  According to SSI, sales of new retail registered outboard-powered aluminum fishing boats in the U.S. increased from 61,000 in 2016 to 62,000 in 2017.  Total freshwater fishing, which includes aluminum ...

Continuing his efforts to increase access to public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced yesterday a proposal to open more than 248,000 acres to new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 30 national wildlife refuges. Opportunities include places like Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois and Wisconsin, and deer hunting in Philadelphia at John Heinz National ...

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) has announced the launch of Making Waves, an initiative designed to empower women and girls to cast off labels and rock the boat - with fishing pole in hand. RBFF is committed to leading the industry by example and promoting women empowerment on the water by removing perceived barriers to the sport, increasing ...

NOAA Fisheries is considering new regulations that would open the door for a 2018 limited season for red snapper in the South Atlantic. Called Amendment 43, it would allow recreational anglers to harvest one red snapper per person per day. Fishing would be allowed on weekends only and the season start and end dates would be announced if the amendment is ...

The Progressive Insurance Saltwater Fishing Expo opens today, nearly doubling its footprint as it moves from the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, N.J. to the larger, more centrally-located New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, NJ. The 2018 Saltwater Fishing Expo will feature more fishing tackle and gear exhibits, seminars, and interactive features dedicated to the region’s large population of ...

Collegiate bass anglers will have more opportunity to cash in on tournament success in 2018 thanks to the continued support of Ranger Cup University. The contingency program, designed by Ranger Boats exclusively for college anglers, is free of charge and open to any college angler, regardless of the brand of boat they own. To remain qualified in the program, anglers ...

A unified fishing and boating industry stands ready to take a huge step early this year in Washington when the Modern Fish Act moves through Congress.  In mid-December, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources approved H.R. 200, a bill sponsored by Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) that amends the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to provide ...

A proposal to change California’s fishing licensing process to a 12-month calendar period failed to pass, as Senate Bill 187 failed in the California Assembly just before the Labor Day weekend.  Efforts led by the California Sportfishing League, which was founded in part by the NMMA, had helped drive support for the bill as CSL pointed out that the calendar system ...

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the Aquatic Resources Education Association (AREA) announced the release of the Recommendations and Strategic Tools for Effective Angler Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) Efforts. This document is a product of the two-year partnership between AREA and RBFF to develop guidelines for increasing the effectiveness of angler R3 efforts nationally. "These actionable R3 ...

Fishing remains among the most popular outdoor activities for adults, according to the 2016 Special Report on Fishing released today by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the Outdoor Foundation at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades Show (ICAST) in Orlando. The report reveals that more than 2.5 million people had their very first fishing experience in ...