# Is saltwater really growing while overall participation

> Yes, on the published figures. The ASA's 2026 report puts saltwater at a record 15.5 million anglers in 2025, in the same year that total US participa

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Direct answer. Yes, on the published figures. Key facts. 1) Saltwater fishing reached a record 15.5 million US anglers in 2025, against a national headcount that declined. 2) US inshore coverage reports artificial lures gaining ground on live bait, particularly for redfish, speckled trout and flounder. 3) The named formats are soft plastic paddle tails, shrimp imitations and jerk baits, with colour, action and scent doing the work. Frequently asked questions. Q: Is saltwater really growing while overall participation falls? A: Yes, on the published figures. The ASA's 2026 report puts saltwater at a record 15.5 million anglers in 2025, in the same year that total US participation fell from 57.9 million to 57 million. Sources (5). 1) Emerging Trends In Inshore Saltwater Fishing, Angler Sportsman, 2026-06-14 — https://www.anglersportsman.com/2026/06/emerging-trends-in-inshore-saltwater-fishing/ 2) US fishing participation dips for first time since 2021 despite 10-year growth, Angling International, 2026-07-31 — https://angling-international.com/2026/07/31/us-fishing-participation-dips-for-first-time-since-2021-despite-10-year-growth/ 3) 2026 Special Report on Fishing, American Sportfishing Association — https://asafishing.org/reports/2026-special-report-on-fishing/ 4) UN Comtrade — China export statistics under HS 9507, 2023-2024 (retrieved from the official API) — https://comtradeplus.un.org/ 5) Harmonized System heading 9507 (rods, hooks, reels, lures) — US HTS lookup — https://hts.usitc.gov/ Is saltwater really growing while overall participation falls? Answered from the inshore saltwater: where the record participation is going record · Inshore saltwater · question 1 of 6 · updated 2026-09-21 Short answer Yes, on the published figures. In detail The ASA's 2026 report puts saltwater at a record 15.5 million anglers in 2025, in the same year that total US participation fell from 57.9 million to 57 million. Where this answer comes from Part of the product record Inshore saltwater: where the record participation is going (Inshore saltwater). The record carries the tables this answer is drawn from, the fields a factory needs before quoting, and an explicit list of what has not been verified. Products that solve this Sampled listings from the same product family (Inshore saltwater). Reference price per unit with the MOQ stated; a quotation against your specification governs a transaction. Soft Lure Printed 12cm 3D PVC Fork Tail Soft Lure for… US$0.67 / piece MOQ 500 pieces ＋ Soft Lure High-Fidelity 3D Printed PVC Flying Fish… US$3.75–3.85 / piece MOQ 100 pieces ＋ Soft Lure Lure Floating Anti-thread Needle Tail… US$0.6 / piece MOQ 200 pieces ＋ All soft lure listings · factory identity is released after a trade account is approved. Read next How to read a catalogue: the field that decides each price The 14 sourcing terms, including AQL and colourway tolerance Build the specification for this product Send a specification and get a quotation in one business day Other questions in this record What are inshore anglers buying? Why does inshore need a different specification from freshwater? Is live bait being replaced? What about electronics? What is the single most valuable thing to specify? ‹ Previous question This is the first question on the record Question 1 of 6 All questions on this record Next question › What are inshore anglers buying? Still unsure? Send the product, the quantity and the destination market, and you get an answer against verified factory records within one business day. If the question is useful to other buyers we publish it as a page like this one. Ask a follow-up The full record All answers Sources 5 cited Emerging Trends In Inshore Saltwater Fishing, Angler Sportsman, 2026-06-14 US fishing participation dips for first time since 2021 despite 10-year growth, Angling International, 2026-07-31 2026 Special Report on Fishing, American Sportfishing Association UN Comtrade — China export statistics under HS 9507, 2023-2024 (retrieved from the official API) Harmonized System heading 9507 (rods, hooks, reels, lures) — US HTS lookup Every figure on this page traces to one of these. The same list is declared in the page structured data (schema.org citation) and in the Markdown twin. Updated 2026-09-21 Scope Fishing tackle sourcing Sources 5 cited Was this page useful? Yes, useful Not really