2003 Idaho Sport Fishing Economic Report

Making Idaho's Fishing Dollars
Work for You...
Current information about the substantial economic benefit of sport fishing in Idaho has not been available to local and county businesses and government.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game conducted a mail survey by sending out 48,000 surveys to Idaho fishing license holders in 2003. The 25,583 completed responses are used for these results of the Idaho 2003 Angler Economic Activity.

The following links go to economic information about fishing at the statewide level, county levels and selected waters.

Statewide
In 2003, Idaho's population was 1,366,332 with one in four eligible people residing in Idaho purchasing a fishing license. There were 424,375 fishing licenses and 106,759 permits (chinook/steelhead/2 pole permits) sold to 400,824 individuals of which 124,297 were nonresidents. Fishing in Idaho generated $437,631,735 in statewide retail sales in 2003 with an additional $12,289,806 for fishing licenses and permits.

Anglers fished 3,908,747 days on 2,917,972 trips with an average of 1.3 days per trip and 5.1 hours per day and $150 per trip.

They spent:

1. $106,027,912 on food and beverages in stores.
2. $ 42,241,442 on food and beverages in restaurants.
3. $ 61,857,157 on fishing supplies.
4. $ 59,982,392 on other equipment and supplies.
5. $ 91,115,794 on round-trip transportation.
6. $ 31,495,818 on outfitters and/or guides.
7. $ 29,358,536 on motels.
8. $ 10,008,279 on campgrounds, public and/or private.
9. $ 5,544,405 on Access Fees, boat launches, parking, etc.
10. $ 12,289,806 on fishing licenses and permits.