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National Go Fishing Day

Fly fishing, worm fishing, boating or wading…whatever your preference, get yourself up and out early to catch yourself the biggest fish you can.

Fish Hobbies & Activities Life & Living Nature & Environment Relaxation Sport & Fitness55

Marketing angleinferred

Drive June sales of fishing gear, bait, and outdoor experiences by positioning National Go Fishing Day as the ultimate excuse to upgrade equipment and plan fishing trips.

Relevance 55medium intent

Gear guide: Essential fishing equipment for beginners and pros
Local fishing spots & tournament calendar for June
Father's Day + Fishing Day combo: Gift ideas for the angler in your life
Before-and-after tackle box makeovers and budget fishing setups

History

While fishing has served to feed civilization since near the dawn of time, and in modern days it is a major industry that has a yearly yield in the billions of dollars, National Go Fishing Day is dedicated to sport fishing, as well as those who fish as part of survival (known as subsistence fishing). Fishing is a great way to help add food to your table while having the satisfaction of knowing that you caught it yourself, as well as a wonderful bonding opportunity for friends and family.

While the most common forms of fishing are rod and reel fishing, fly fishing, and at a distant third bow-fishing, there are many other forms that are practiced around the world for survival and pleasure. Whatever your preferred method, fishing is a great experience and gets us back in touch with nature and ourselves.

Contrary to popular belief, fishing is far more than “One jerk waiting for another jerk at the end of the line.”, and instead is actually a result of luck combined with three important processes, the state of the fish, how it encounters the tackle, and the composition of that tackle.

The Ancient Greeks considered fishermen of very low status so they rarely depicted them in art. All civilizations that lived near the water have developed some forms of fishing over time and even relied on fish as a part of their diet to some extent. Eating our fishy rewards after a long fishing stint, seems immoral for some but it is practical for many.

The benefits of fishing are plentiful. Now that isn’t just because of the great suntan you can get whilst sitting on the riverbanks or pondside whilst fishing, but because it is a sport that requires a lot of skill and diligence.

Some of the biggest benefits include: boosting the immune system! Yes that’s a fact, if you’re doing something that you love, then your body is healing and strengthening itself constantly. Add this to the muscular strength you need to reel in that tough carp that has bit the line and you’re really working your cardiovascular system also. Good start isn’t it?

Fishing also has the opposite effect also, it certainly helps promote relaxation and when you are sat out in nature, you are certainly getting your daily dose of fresh air and vitamin D that will make you feel good on the outside as well as on the inside! For those who have a little bit of a short temper, you could choose fishing as a way to tame that fiery temperament.

Fishing takes patience and promotes a calm nature, which is beneficial for you mentally and physically; it can lower blood pressure and allow you to feel more calm and ready to tackle life! It will help promote self-reliance and the ability to learn for yourself, and it’s a sport that can be enjoyed individually or with family.

Think of it as family bonding time! “Come on kids, let’s go catch some Chinook with old pap!” Don’t forget to stick on your ‘gone fishing’ plaque on the doorstep, so the neighbors know where to find you!

How to celebrate

Go Fishing

Get out there and go fishing! It’s as simple as that. Whether you prefer to go boat fishing and troll along with your bait and tackle trailing in the water behind you, or standing in hip waders while casting your fly over the top of the water, there’s a form of fishing that will appeal to everyone. Even if you don’t like fishing, you have to admit that sitting quietly on the edge of a lake with a fishing pole and a case of beer beats even the best day at work!

Enter a Fishing Competition

If you want to further your journey within fishing and you feel you’re ready for another step, then you can celebrate Fishing Day with entering into a competition. There are plenty around and there are often money prizes up for grabs! Now what better way to celebrate fishing than with a big win? Get involved and really start to enjoy what fishing has to offer, with its huge benefits! Time to learn a new skill, so let’s go fishing!

Get Creative

We have certainly all fished before. Fished for compliments, fished for some decent wine to go with our Sunday roast but the act of fishing is indeed considered an actual sport. Whether you fish with the old fashion maggots, or whether you’ve progressed to the corn bait, you will find that fishing in general is a sport that requires both patience and strength. There are plenty of fish to choose from, depending on where you choose to fish and although some people fish for a living, this little hobby can develop into much more than just a Sunday morning pastime. National Go Fishing Day Timeline42,000 BCE Earliest Known Fishhooks in Island Southeast Asia Shell fishhooks from Jerimalai Cave on Timor show that early humans were already crafting specialized gear and catching pelagic fish such as tuna. 1496 “The Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle” Printed in England Included in The Boke of St. Albans, this is one of the first detailed English texts on rod-and-line angling as a gentlemanly pastime.[1]1653 Izaak Walton Publishes The Compleat Angler Blending practical tips, dialogue, and nature writing, Walton’s book helps establish angling as a reflective form of recreation rather than just subsistence work. 1939 International Game Fish Association Founded The IGFA is established to promote responsible sport fishing, standardize rules, and maintain world records for saltwater and freshwater game fish. [1]2016 Recreational Fishing Recognized as Major U.S. Economic Driver An American Sportfishing Association report estimates that U.S. anglers spend tens of billions of dollars annually, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. [1]

Earliest Known Fishhooks in Island Southeast Asia

Shell fishhooks from Jerimalai Cave on Timor show that early humans were already crafting specialized gear and catching pelagic fish such as tuna.

“The Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle” Printed in England

Included in The Boke of St. Albans, this is one of the first detailed English texts on rod-and-line angling as a gentlemanly pastime. [1]

Izaak Walton Publishes The Compleat Angler

Blending practical tips, dialogue, and nature writing, Walton’s book helps establish angling as a reflective form of recreation rather than just subsistence work.

International Game Fish Association Founded

The IGFA is established to promote responsible sport fishing, standardize rules, and maintain world records for saltwater and freshwater game fish. [1]

Recreational Fishing Recognized as Major U.S. Economic Driver

An American Sportfishing Association report estimates that U.S. anglers spend tens of billions of dollars annually, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. [1]

FAQ

Is recreational fishing actually good for mental health?

Evidence from observational studies suggests that people who fish regularly often report lower perceived stress, better mood, and a stronger sense of well‑being, partly because fishing combines gentle physical activity, time in “blue space” like rivers and lakes, and opportunities for social connection, although researchers note that most data are self‑reported and do not prove a direct cause‑and‑effect relationship. [1]

How does recreational fishing affect the environment compared with commercial fishing?

Recreational fishing usually removes far less total biomass than industrial fleets, but it can still have significant local impacts, including pressure on popular species, lost hooks and lines that entangle wildlife, lead contamination from some sinkers, and disturbance of shorelines and nesting birds, so scientists and managers increasingly treat it as a meaningful part of overall fisheries impact rather than as negligible. [1]

What are the key best practices for humane and low‑impact catch‑and‑release fishing?

Fish biologists generally recommend using appropriate tackle so fights are short, landing fish quickly, keeping them in the water as much as possible, wetting hands before handling, supporting the body horizontally, avoiding gills and squeezing, removing hooks with minimal effort (often by using barbless hooks or crimping barbs), and releasing fish promptly in calm water so they can swim off strongly.

Why do some conservation groups encourage barbless hooks?

Barbless hooks are promoted because they usually make hook removal faster and cleaner, reduce the amount of tissue damage, and shorten handling time in the air, all of which can improve the chances that released fish survive, although they do not eliminate stress or mortality and may slightly increase the risk of a fish throwing the hook during the fight.

How important are small‑scale and subsistence fisheries to global food security?

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, small‑scale and subsistence fisheries employ the majority of the world’s capture fishers and fishworkers in many regions and provide crucial sources of protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients for coastal and inland communities, particularly in low‑income countries where fish is a staple food and often consumed locally.

Is fishing more about recreation or survival in most parts of the world?

In higher‑income countries, especially in North America, Europe, and parts of Oceania, a large share of fishing activity is recreational and regulated through licenses and bag limits, while in many low‑ and middle‑income regions, fishing is primarily a livelihood or subsistence activity that underpins local economies, culture, and day‑to‑day nutrition, with households sometimes combining small‑scale commercial and home‑consumption fishing.

What are the main ways anglers can reduce their ecological footprint while still enjoying fishing?

Experts recommend following local regulations on seasons, size, and bag limits, avoiding sensitive or closed areas, properly disposing of or recycling line and tackle, choosing non‑lead weights where alternatives are available, practicing careful catch‑and‑release for non‑target or regulated species, and supporting habitat restoration or community science projects so that fish populations and aquatic ecosystems remain healthy for future generations.