Fishing is big business and a major American institution. More people fish (approximately 60 million) than play golf (24 million) and tennis (17.3 million)
combined. America's 30 million bass anglers are the basis of a $41 billion industry
Approximately one in every five Americans hangs out the "Gone Fishing" sign every year. Bass is the fish most frequently sought. According to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service statistics, 43 percent of freshwater anglers fish for black bass. One in every 150 U.S. households includes a B.A.S.S. member. One in every 400 Americans is a B.A.S.S. member.
A BASSMASTER® subscriber survey indicates that the weekend bass angler is about 42 years old, is married and earns approximately $60,000 annually. 58% are college graduates. He owns an average of more than 14 rods and reels, a bass boat, motor and trailer, four tackle boxes and spends an average of $1,522 a year on his hobby, which he enjoys an average of 97 days a year. His dream? To fish the BASSMASTERS' Tournament Trail and win the BASS Masters classic. The BASSMASTER Tournament Trail, a series of four BASSMASTER Eastern Invitational tournaments, four BASSMASTER Central Invitational tournaments, four BASSMASTER Western Invitational tournaments, six BASSMASER Top 100 tournaments, and one BASSMASTER MegaBucks tournament, serve as qualifying events for the world championship BASS Masters Classic. Tours are held coast to coast and from Florida to Canada. "If sportfishing were incorporated as a single business, it would rank 27th on the fortune 500 List of top sales producers, surpassing such giants as Coca-Cola, GTE and Dow Chemical. [Robert Montgomery, Dec. 1997, Living Waters," BASSMASTERS Magazine] Some surveys list Bass Fishing as the number one participation sport. Others place it in the upper five. Sports participation, participated in more than once (in millions) - Source: National Sporting Goods Association. 1. Walking67.74. Fishing47.611. Golf24.0
67.74. Fishing47.611. Golf24.0 2. Swimming 63.15. Camping 47.319. Tennis 17.3
63.15. Camping 47.319. Tennis 17.3 3. Bicycle Riding 54.66. Bowling 42.522. Football3.5
6. Bowling 42.522. Football3.5 .
Households in America that house a B.A.S.S. member......................................................1/150
B.A.S.S. members in population...............................................................................................1/400
Percentage of members who are male:...........................................................98% Female: 2%
BASSMASTER members who participate in tournaments:................................50% Approx.
Bassmaster Magazine..............................Circ. 600.000-plus, Readership: approx 4 million
B.A.S.S. TIMES ............................................Circ. 75,000 -subs, Readership: approx: 245.000
FISHING TACKLE RETAILER:................................Leading industry magazine: Circ. 21,000
THE BASSMASTERS (TV Series), Weekends, TNN 26 weeks, Approx 1 million viewers/show
Number of Countries with B.A.S.S. members:............................................................Approx. 75
JOE THOMAS, An 21 year veteran of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail and Outdoor Show host is an icon of the sport. His television shows reach over 30 million homes each week on The Outdoor Channel and regional cable networks.
