Fishing License Sales Hit Five-Year High

Over 871,499 fishing licenses have been sold as of September 13 already eclipsed the total yearly sales for each of the last four years and represents the largest one year percentage increase since 1980, according to sales figures from the Fish and Boat Commission.

“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, family oriented 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.

Visit the Outdoor Shop to buy a fishing license online.