RBFF in the News

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced that Lenn Scholz has been elected to its Board of Directors. Scholz, currently serving as president of Boston Whaler Group, brings a lifetime of boating industry experience and a deep-rooted passion for watercraft to the foundation’s board.  

The average annual spend of an angler is now $1,500. That means retaining just half of the anglers currently churning out could equate to a $9.2 billion increase in revenue for the industry. Manufacturers, retailers, guides, conservation agencies and fisheries all stand to benefit from that increase, with revenue filtering not only to balance sheets, but also to crucial agency-funded fishery projects, such as habitat restoration and angler access initiatives.

You may recognize some of these programs, including Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation programs, Clean Marinas programs, the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program and the Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Safety program, to note a few.

Few industry experts have a better understanding of angler retention than this duo of senior strategists and directors from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation. In San Diego, Vatalaro and Strong will present the brand new findings of a year-long study on angler retention titled “The Psychology of Churn.”

Awards will be presented during the annual Industry Breakfast, Innovation Awards Presentation, and Keynote, held from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on the opening morning of IBEX, Tuesday, October 1, at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, Tampa Bay Ballroom. Sponsored by AWLGRIP North America, Honda Marine, Interlux Yacht Finishes, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), Sea Hawk Paints, and Tides Marine Inc., 

 An organization called “Take Me Fishing” claims the numbers are even higher, with females representing 36 percent of total anglers. Interestingly, this group also conducted an analysis of crossover activities.

Madison is among a small group of women who engage in both fishing and hunting – only 17 percent of women participate in both activities.

Research done by Take Me Fishing and Ipsos supports this journey, finding that women who fish have higher self-esteem and greater perseverance. Female anglers surveyed as part of the study also said that fishing teaches them patience and helps them develop confidence.

The fishing-inspired upcycled clothing collection turns old clothes into new confidence and highlights the transformational power of fishing and boating.
 

A new campaign is blending the power of fashion with the tranquility of fishing to boost women's confidence and well-being. The Second Catch Collection, a partnership between Rentrayage and TakeMeFishing™, upcycles donated clothing into fishing-inspired garments, encouraging women to discover the holistic benefits of spending time on the water while empowering the next generation of female anglers.

Why do novice anglers and boaters leave the pursuits behind?

The simple answer, for the younger generation, is that there are now too many competing interests to allow time for outdoors pursuits.