Public Service Campaign Touts Health Benefits Of Boating And Fishing

Take Me Fishing and Discover Boating are launching a new public service campaign called Get On Board to raise awareness about the wellness benefits of fishing and boating. The campaign is informed by the latest consumer research from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), the national nonprofit organization behind the Take Me Fishing brand. According to the current Special Report on Fishing, “relaxing and unwinding” is the number one experience associated with the activity. The report also found that nearly one in three participants said the best thing about fishing is “getting away from the usual demands of life.”

“Fishing isn’t just about the fish,” said Stephanie Vatalaro, senior vice president of marketing and communications for RBFF. “People have long turned to fishing and boating for stress relief. Given the uncertainty in today’s world, there’s something uniquely appealing about the calming effect of the water. For many people, fishing and boating are lifelines to mental health and wellness.”

Additional data suggests that interest in fishing and boating has continued to grow amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent poll, one in five Americans said they are more likely now to try the activities than they were prior to the pandemic. Among parents, the statistic is one in four.

Those interested in joining the Get On Board movement can visit www.TakeMeFishing.org/GetOnBoard or www.DiscoverBoating.com and use the social media hashtag #TheWaterIsOpen. Website resources include how-to guides for getting started fishing and boating, an interactive map of places to fish as well as local water-access updates to help people recreate responsibly.