Women in Fishing: Breaking Barriers and Casting Lines

Changing Tides

The flats, rivers, and offshore waters aren't just changing because of water temps or bait migrations. They're changing because of who's out there fishing them.

Women now make up 37% of anglers in the United States. That's nearly 20 million female anglers hitting the water, and the number's been climbing steadily for over a decade. In 2023 alone, 4.2 million first-time anglers picked up a rod, and 41% of them were women. We’re seeing a fundamental shift in who's on the water and who's driving the future of the sport.

And we've seen this firsthand. Women aren't just showing up to fish. They're guiding, competing, innovating, and leading conservation efforts that are changing how we approach fisheries management.

The Rise of Female Anglers

Here's the thing about fishing: it's never really been a men-only sport. Women have been commercial fishers, subsistence harvesters, and recreational anglers for as long as people have been pulling fish out of water. What's new is the recognition and the numbers.

Between 2011 and 2022, female angler participation jumped 40%. That's 3.8 million more women on the water than a decade prior. In saltwater fishing specifically (where gear costs more and the learning curve is steeper), women went from being a rarity to representing a significant portion of the fleet. Female saltwater anglers spent $3.7 billion in 2021. That’s more than hobby money. That's a serious investment in boats, tackle, trips, and conservation.

The International Game Fish Association has been tracking women's world records since its founding in 1939, when women like Francesca LaMonte (the organization's first secretary) were already making waves in marine science and angling. Fast forward to today, and women hold records across every species and line class imaginable. Pamela Basco has 14 IGFA world records. Joan Salvato Wulff revolutionized fly casting and founded the Wulff School of Fly Fishing that trained generations of anglers. 

Challenges and Triumphs

Let's not pretend it's been smooth sailing. Women in fishing still deal with stereotypes, exclusion, and the assumption that they're there with their boyfriend or dad instead of being there to fish. Tackle shops that assume women don't know a popper from a pencil. Tournaments that didn't allow female competitors. Guides who'd rather talk to the male angler even when the woman on the boat is the one who booked the trip.

So, women didn't wait for an invitation. They founded their own organizations. The International Women's Fishing Association, established in 1955 by Kay Rybovich and friends who were tired of being excluded from tournaments, became the first all-female team to compete in the Hemingway Marlin Tournament. Ladies, Let's Go Fishing has been running educational programs since the 1990s, teaching hands-on skills and building community.

Women Leading Conservation Efforts 

Women are and have been driving some of the most effective conservation work happening on the water now.

For example, Joan Vernon, a Billfish Foundation board member, didn't wait for permission to change billfish conservation. She championed circle hooks when most tournaments still used J-hooks that gut-hooked and killed fish. In the late 1990s, she convinced Central American tournaments to mandate circle hooks, and the Greater Miami Billfish Tournament (which Vernon helped found) became the first U.S. tournament to require them completely. By 2005, virtually every major tournament in Central America had followed suit.

Diana Tarazona Giraldo is advancing coral conservation in the Caribbean through coral spawning monitoring projects in Colombia's Santa Marta and Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park. Using innovative underwater camera technology, her team tracks coral reproduction in real-time to improve restoration outcomes and help reefs recover from climate change and disease.

Melina Maldonado-Sandoval, a Mayo-Yoreme fisherwoman from northern Sinaloa, Mexico, rescues sea turtles from poachers by trading gasoline for their release, then collects scientific data on each turtle before releasing them back to the ocean. Working with the non-profit Grupo Tortuguero de Las Californias, she's helping researchers understand sea turtle populations in heavily fished waters where five endangered species face threats from bycatch. Her work proves that conservation doesn't have to come from a lab; it comes from people who know the water and are willing to do something about it

In the Philippines, women in fisherfolk cooperatives aren't waiting around for someone else to fix coastal management. In Surigao del Sur, they're serving as volunteer fish wardens and sanctuary watchers, and their work is paying off with better-managed fisheries, sustainable outcomes, and communities that can make a living without destroying the resource base. Women's participation in Philippine fisheries has been directly linked to increased productivity, reduced waste, improved product quality, and more effective resource management. Organizations such as the Cagangohan Women's Association improved workplace safety in fish processing, boosting both product quality and sales. Through cooperatives and community-based management, Filipino women have proven that you don't have to choose between conservation and keeping the lights on.

Tips for Aspiring Female Anglers

Start Where You Are 

You don't need a $60,000 boat or a guided trip to Costa Rica. Start on public water with gear you can afford. YouTube tutorials, local fishing clubs, and state wildlife agencies all offer free resources. The barrier to entry is lower than you think.

Find Your People 

Fishing is better with a crew. Ladies, Let's Go Fishing runs events across the country. Local chapters of groups often have women's programs. Social media fishing groups connect you with anglers in your area. Don't fish alone if you don't want to. 

Invest in GOOD Gear

Quality doesn't mean expensive, but it does mean functional. A good rod and reel matter. Sharp hooks matter. And polarized sunglasses? They're not optional. You can't catch what you can't see.

Bajío builds sunglasses specifically for anglers who need to see beneath the surface. Our LAPIS technology blocks 95% of blue light for radically clear vision. Our frames are made from bio-based materials because we fish these waters too, and we want them around for the next generation. 

Ignore the Noise 

You'll run into guys who assume you don't know what you're doing. Prove them wrong by catching fish. You'll encounter gatekeepers who think fishing is their domain. Ignore them. The water belongs to everyone, and you've got as much right to be there as anyone else with a license.

Bajío Sunglasses: Supporting Women on the Water

We're not just making sunglasses for anglers. We're making them for all anglers. Our frames come in sizes from small to extra large because faces come in all shapes.

We're committed to building an inclusive fishing community that recognizes talent, effort, and passion, regardless of who's holding the rod. With 37% of anglers being women, and that number climbing, women will soon make up close to half of the fishing population. And as we see it, that’s good news for conservation and the future of the sport.  

The Future is Female

The future of fishing is diverse, it's conservation-minded, and it's already here. Women are running guide services, captaining tournament boats, leading research teams, and setting policy that protects fisheries for everyone.

Support doesn't mean "women's" gear in pink camo (though if that's your thing, fish it). It means recognizing skill, amplifying voices, and making space for everyone who wants to be there. 

Check out women-led organizations like Ladies, Let's Go Fishing, the International Women's Fishing Association, and SAGE. Follow female guides and tournament anglers who are killing it on the water. And when you see a woman at the boat ramp, assume she knows what she's doing. Because she probably does.

Ready to see what you've been missing? Explore Bajío's full collection and get on the water.