When the COVID pandemic canceled many indoor activities, many people in Pennsylvania went outside to do something, including those who wanted to fish.
This has led to a precipitous increase in the number of anglers along the state’s rivers, creeks and lakes.
More than 920,000 people bought a fishing license in 2021 — more than 100,000 more than in 2019 — marking a resurgence in the popularity of fishing as an affordable, family-friendly outdoor activity, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
The trend is reversing a pattern of either flat or declining license sales.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said fishing in state parks has also increased significantly, rising from 5.2 million in 2019 to 6.7 million in 2020 and remaining high at 6 million in 2021.
Fishing is legal in 101 state parks statewide, including French Creek in Berks County, and Pennsylvania’s 86,000 miles of flowing water is second only to Alaska, a much larger state, according to the Fish and Boat Commission.
“A lot of people have tried fishing and bought gear during the pandemic, so we want to keep giving them opportunities,” said DCNR spokesman Wesley Robinson. “We want a lot of them to stay with us.”
The surge in outdoor recreation is a benefit for those finding rest outside, giving them a much-needed health break, he said.
Having more fishing enthusiasts is also good for Pennsylvania’s natural areas, he said.
“We want people to understand the importance of nature and protect and preserve our natural resources for future generations, and a lot of that is learned by spending time outdoors and making that connection with nature,” he said.
Wyomissing outdoor author and sportsman Tom Ham believes that the increase in fishing license sales in recent years is largely due to anglers returning to the sport after saying goodbye to it.
But there are also some new fishermen in Berks who have had more time during the pandemic and wanted to try it for the first time, he said.
While hunting takes more time and money, requires safety courses and expensive guns and other gear, fishing only requires a license and some basic gear, he said.
“For $20 you can go to Wal-Mart and get whatever you need,” he said.
The only downside Ham sees is that more people fishing can leave more debris on the waterways, which he said he saw at Berks.
But he hopes that as more people take part in the sport, it will increase their respect for nature and prompt some to join fishing clubs and conservation groups doing things like fish stocks and habitat restoration.
“Hopefully we’ll create more advocacy and that more fishing means more conservation,” he said. “I hope people care enough to roll up their sleeves and get involved.”
And even by buying a fishing license, they put more money into government programs that help the cause, he said.
Because people under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license in Pennsylvania, it’s hard to say how many young people have taken up the sport in recent years. But Ham said young anglers are almost always lucky enough to have a parent, neighbor or other mentor who introduced them to the sport.
Not only have fishing license sales soared during the pandemic, but purchases of decals for non-motorized watercraft in Pennsylvania have increased 40 percent, said Mike Parker, spokesman for the Fish and Boat Commission.
Many people had to evacuate their homes, he said, and walking or hiking attracted the water.
Kayaking became particularly popular, he said.
The opening day of trout season in Pennsylvania this year is April 2, and state officials spoke about the importance of outdoor recreation during a recent visit to the TCO Fly Shop in Boiling Springs, Cumberland County.
“There is no doubt that being active and being together outdoors has got many people through the pandemic, and these experiences have reminded us what we already knew – that outdoor recreation plays a huge role in our health and well-being,” DCNR -Secretary called Cindy Adams Dunn. “There is also no doubt that outdoor recreation plays a big part in Pennsylvania’s economy.
“We are fortunate to have an abundance of public lands, bodies of water, and energetic entrepreneurs who, combined with Pennsylvanians’ love of the outdoors, have created a great environment for outdoor recreation businesses.”
Pennsylvania has the sixth largest outdoor recreation economy in the country, and recreational fishing generates an estimated $721 million worth of economic impact each year statewide. Water sports, including power boating and paddle boarding, contribute an estimated $6 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy annually, officials said.
Ham urged those who are new to the fishery or have returned there in recent years to follow the rules that might apply to the type of fish they are allowed to hold, what bait or hook to use or when they are allowed to fish.
“Respect the regulations and watch where you fish,” he said. “Let’s keep these places beautiful.”
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