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Is angling becoming cool again in the UK? Recent data shows that more young people are picking up rods and families are taking fishing holidays in the region.
A report from the Angling Trust – the body that represents the sport in England and Wales – has revealed a 23% increase year-on-year of teenagers obtaining a rod licence, while Google searches for ‘fishing holidays in the UK’ have shot up by 110% in the last 90 days.
Pop culture has also played an important role in this trend, with high profile figures like England international footballer, Phil Foden, being open about how the sport plays a role in helping him switch off away from the spotlight.
Meanwhile, BAFTA-nominated series, Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing, continues to attract strong audiences, presenting angling as a backdrop for conversations about the highs and lows of life.
Independent Cottages, a specialist in self-catering accommodation across the UK, has seen this change reflected in its own data. Internal figures show increased enquiries of properties with fishing on site up to 13% year-on-year across select months, suggesting that more holidaymakers are actively choosing accommodation that allows them to try fishing during a short break.
Matthew Fox, CEO of Independent Cottages, said: “We’re seeing more people look for simple ways to spend time outside and reset at the start of the year. Fishing fits really well with that. It doesn’t require expensive equipment or prior experience, and staying somewhere with fishing on site removes a lot of the barriers people often associate with trying something new.”
