Multistate Conservation Grants Program Success Stories


Who fishes? Who's Likely to Become a Fishing “Drop Out?

A joint effort between the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies examined state fishing license data to help state fishery agencies and industry learn more about their customers.

License records for 15 states were closely analyzed to identify the type of person more or less likely to buy licenses—and therefore increase or decrease their fishing activity—and who is more likely to upgrade or downgrade their license purchases.

These states are:

Lifestyle data, which reports the common lifestyle characteristics of people living on the same block as the license buyer, are appended to each license record examined. By adding in such data and grouping people together based on common characteristics (type of profession, family status, rural/suburban and other factors), a clearer picture emerges about the types of people more or less likely to fish.

Below are links to the national/regional report plus the individual state reports. This project is funded by a grant from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Multi-State grant, submitted and managed jointly by ASA and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Technology and Data Utilization Committee. For more information, contact Rob Southwick, Southwick Associates.

National & Regional Report: Fishing License Analysis Technical Report 
This technical report presents the full national and regional results plus methodology. The major finding relates to the churn rate: only one in five anglers buy a license every year and most only bought a license once or twice in the past five years. This is the project’s primary report. Adobe Reader™ is required.

Introductory “User-Friendly” Report: License Analysis Summary Report
This report, presented in an outdoor magazine format, is an introduction to the project’s major findings. Presented are the research highlights the needs and applications for this type of research.  Adobe Reader™ is required; 8 pages with photos and charts.