June 9, 2017 — New Jersey is the leader in the Mid-Atlantic region when it comes to saltwater recreational fishing, according to the findings of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report.
No fishermen take more trips, buy more fishing tackle or work in the industry more than fishermen do in the Garden State.
The Mid-Atlantic States in the report include Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.
The report, titled Fisheries Economics of the U.S., 2015, was released in May.
Based on the report’s 2015 numbers, New Jersey’s saltwater recreational fishing industry generated the most jobs 16,100 jobs, sales at $1.8 million and took the most fishing trips at 4.3 million.
New York was next with 7,800 jobs, $874 million in sales and 3.2 million trips.
Nationally, New Jersey’s saltwater recreational fishing industry ranked 3rd in jobs created behind Florida and California, 4th in sales behind Florida, California and Texas and 3rd in trips taken behind Florida and North Carolina.