Gone fishin'
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Fishing or angling has historically been a popular leisure activity for Canadians and visitors. In 2005, more than 3.2 million adults fished for recreation in Canada. Spending on recreational fishing reached $1.6 billion that year, 60% of it spent in Ontario and Quebec. Eight out of 10 anglers fish within their home province or territory.
Anglers in Prince Edward Island are the most successful. In 2005, they caught an average of 90 fish per angler, which is significantly above the national average of 64 fish per angler. One-quarter of the fish caught in Canada are trout. Other popular species are walleye (17%), perch (17%) and bass (13%).
In Newfoundland and Labrador, one out of three adults is an active angler. From 1995 to 2005, the number of resident anglers dropped 25%. In 2005, the average age of male anglers was 48, six years older than in 1995. This suggests that younger anglers are not replacing the older generation of recreational anglers.
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