Fishing License Sales

[afishinado]

Fishing License Sales Hit Five-Year High

Harrisburg, PA – The number of Pennsylvania fishing licenses sold through September 13 – 871,499 –
has already eclipsed the total yearly sales for each of the last four years and represents the largest oneyear
percentage increase since 1980, according to sales figures from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission (PFBC).

“Fishing license sales are up 5 percent and overall stamp sales are up 4.36 percent over the same period
from 2008, reinforcing thinking by many that people have returned to fishing as an affordable, familyoriented
activity,” said PFBC Executive Director Douglas Austen. “The commission is also finishing the
second year of a multi-year direct marketing campaign in cooperation with the Recreational Boating and
Fishing Foundation. We believe these efforts aimed at lapsed anglers have also had a positive impact on
licenses sales.”

Among license types, resident license sales are up 5.47 percent; non-resident sales are up 3.41 percent;
7-day tourist licenses are up 1.55 percent; and 3-day tourist licenses are up 3.61 percent. Among stamps,
trout permits are up 3.79 percent; Lake Erie permits are up 3.18 percent; and Combo permits are up by
almost 8 percent.

The good news also extends to boating, where registration renewals are up by
approximately 5 percent from the same period in 2008.
This year’s sales are the highest since 2004, when more than 909,000 licenses were sold. In 2005, the
cost of a license increased from $16.25 to $21 and sales for that year subsequently dropped to 823,175.

The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s
aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities.

For more information about fishing and
boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at www.fishandboat.com.

Link to source: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/newsreleases/2009/licsales_5yr_high.pdf

 

[FarmerDave]

Among stamps,
trout permits are up 3.79 percent; Lake Erie permits are up 3.18 percent; and Combo permits are up by
almost 8 percent.

That tells me this increase is in large part due to the popularity of the Lake Erie Fishery including steelhead. With Brown trout, this should only get better, at least for awhile.

 

[ryguyfi]

It also shows the bad economy... they say that when the economy's bad then movie theater sales go up... it's a cheap way to have a good time. I think that's the same with fishing and hunting licenses. Yes the consumers may not realize all they're paying for supplies and gear, but it technically is a cheap way to have a good time.

 

[Chaz]

I don't think it has anything to do with Lake Erie, only a very small percentage of anglers get there enough to change license sales. It's the economy, or lack of one that has driven up sales, five fish a day is a cheap meal.

 

[Squaretail]

From the licenses I've sold, Erie has been the largest motivators for people that havent had or usually dont get a license. Lots of folks turning on their buddies, kinda like Rygyfly. Only a couple people spoke of supplying food even though they do on the hunting licenses all the time.