Alexandria, VA - September 26, 2007 - Despite competition from video
games and other similar activities and increased urbanization,
recreational angling remains one of the largest outdoor recreational
activities in the nation as well as one of the most solid industries in
the United States. Annually, nearly 40 million anglers generate over $45
billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation's
economy creating employment for over one million people.

The latest National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated
Recreation released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
however, does show a decline in angling participation over the past 5
years with the steepest falloff among Great Lakes anglers. Despite a
decline in participation, tackle sales increased by $250 million over
the past five years. The USFWS conducts its survey every five years with
the latest survey conducted in 2006.

"Although fishing remains one of the most popular outdoor sports in the
country, the sportfishing industry is clearly concerned about the
numbers being reported in the survey," said American Sportfishing
Association President and CEO Mike Nussman. "However, what these numbers
say to us is that our industry is feeling the effects of our society's
rapidly growing disconnect with the outdoors and the lack of easy access
to fishing. We, along with the boating industry, are taking steps to
turn this situation around."

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) established
through the efforts of the sportfishing and boating industry and state
fish and wildlife agencies, is taking steps to halt the long-term
decline through new and innovative marketing and education campaigns
aimed at both novice and avid anglers. The Future Fisherman Foundation,
the angler education arm of the sportfishing industry, is successfully
working within school systems across the county through its Physh Ed
program to provide grants to physical education teachers to instruct
students in fishing and boating.

Nussman further said, "RBFF and the fishing and boating industries are
teaming to create a nationwide advertising campaign aimed at getting
adults and children out their front doors and onto the water. If we
don't teach our children about the wonders and beauty of nature through
a day spent fishing and boating, who will?"

Ultimately, anglers and other sportsmen are the most significant funding
source for conservation and recreation in this country. Through the
purchase of fishing licenses and special excise taxes on gear and
motorboat fuel, hundreds of millions of anglers' dollars each year are
collected or funneled to states for conservation and recreation. Angler
participation and the equipment and fishing licenses they purchase are
crucial to conservation management in the United States. In 2007, $350
million of these excise taxes were provided to state fish and wildlife
agencies to restore fisheries and promote fishing. In addition, fishing
license sales generated nearly $560 million more in revenues.

Other interesting statistics on sportfishing include:

*       The three states with the most anglers are Florida (2.77
million), Texas (2.52 million) and California (1.73 million).-

*       The top three states in terms of jobs supported by sportfishing
are Florida (75,100), Texas (59,000) and Minnesota (43,100).

*       The number of anglers is greater than the population of
California.

*       One out of every three anglers fish for largemouth bass,
America's most popular game fish. Flounder is the most-targeted
saltwater fish.

*       One of every 7 people fished in 2006, making it more popular
than jogging or golf.

*       Forty-five percent of anglers come from cities of one million or
more people.

*       Fifty-one percent of anglers have a household income greater
than $50,000 per year and 17 percent have incomes in excess of $100,000
per year.

*       Over half of all anglers have attended college.

*       Twenty-five percent of anglers are women.

*       Nearly half of all anglers are between 35-54 years of age.

The fishing statistics provided above were compiled by Southwick
Associates, www.southwickassociates.com
<http://www.southwickassociates.com/>  

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing
industry's trade association, committed to looking out for the interests
of the entire sportfishing community. <http://www.asafishing.org/asa/##>
We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of
sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource
agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups, and
outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly
affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in
long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and
prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring social,
economic, and conservation values of sportfishing in America.