NATIONAL GO FISHING DAY 2025

National Go Fishing Day 2025

National Go Fishing Day: Reeling in Engagement at the Marina

June 18 marks National Go Fishing Day, an informal holiday that taps into one of boating’s most time-honored traditions. While not as widely promoted as other summer observances, it offers marina owners and operators a unique opportunity to connect with recreational anglers, introduce new customers to their facilities, and position their marinas as accessible, family-friendly destinations for a beloved outdoor pastime.

Fishing remains one of the most popular outdoor activities in the U.S. According to the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s 2023 report, an impressive 57.7 million Americans (ages 6+) went fishing in 2023—a historic 6% increase over the previous year. The report also notes that fishing reached a participation rate of 19% of the U.S. population, the highest level in over a decade. These numbers reflect a growing, diverse angler community and reinforce the value of recognizing National Go Fishing Day to support and engage this expanding audience.

The Value of Catering to Anglers

Fishing enthusiasts form a significant segment of the recreational boating market. They tend to return frequently, invest in maintenance and gear, and bring friends or family along. For marinas, offering angler-friendly amenities is not just good service—it’s smart business.

These boaters look for:

Easy and early access to launch ramps and slips
Well-stocked fuel docks with bait, ice, and tackle nearby
Fish cleaning stations and waste disposal options
Local knowledge of water conditions, fishing hotspots, and regulations

Facilities that meet these needs help ensure not just a good experience, but repeat visits. Recognizing National Go Fishing Day 2025 is a chance to put these features front and center, especially as summer weekends fill up.

Hosting Onsite Fishing Events

Marinas that want to participate can organize simple, effective activities without extensive planning. The key is to create a space for anglers to gather, learn something new, and enjoy the facility outside of their usual routine.

Casual Fishing Tournaments

Organize a small-scale competition for slipholders or day visitors. Categories might include longest fish, most species caught, or youth awards. Entry fees can be waived or donated to a local conservation group. Events like these often generate word-of-mouth marketing and give boaters another reason to use their slips midweek.

The Your Boat Club’s “How to Organize a Fishing Tournament” page offers free, easy-to-follow guides and tips for beginners—perfect for planning a hands-on clinic or sharing resources with attendees.

Beginner-Friendly Fishing Clinics

Partner with a local guide, experienced angler, or bait shop to offer basic instruction on casting, knot tying, or choosing the right gear. These sessions can be geared toward kids, teens, or adults trying fishing for the first time.

The RBFF’s guide, Everything You Need To Start Fishing, offers free, easy-to-follow checklists, casting tips, tackle recommendations, and safety advice—perfect for planning beginner fishing clinics and sharing with participants

On-the-Dock Demos and Vendor Days

Invite gear manufacturers, marine electronics reps, or local tackle retailers to set up product tables and provide hands-on demos. These events double as entertainment and education for your customers—and give vendors exposure to a targeted audience.

Creating Promotions Around the Holiday

If staffing an event isn’t feasible, marinas can still take advantage of the holiday by offering limited-time deals or small perks to engage their audience.

Fuel or marina store discounts for anyone with a valid fishing license
Free ice or bait with fuel purchases on June 18
Early launch access or extended dock hours for anglers
Photo contests—encourage boaters to tag the marina on social media with their best catch of the day

Providing value, even in small ways, helps build brand loyalty and invites casual or occasional boaters to stay connected.

Highlighting Local Regulations and Conservation

Part of supporting a fishing-friendly marina includes educating customers on local laws and best practices. Consider offering printed or emailed summaries of regional fishing seasons, size and creel limits, or protected species.

State agencies often provide free, up-to-date guides. For example:

Missouri Department of Conservation – Fishing Regulations
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – Various Fishing Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife – Fishing Regulations

You can also post QR codes at your fuel dock or launch ramps that link directly to these sites, helping boaters access rules from their phones.

Promoting responsible angling supports sustainability and reflects positively on your operation. Encourage customers to properly dispose of fishing line and trash using dockside receptacles, and promote Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Programs (MRRP), if available in your state.

Engaging Families and First-Time Fishers

One of the best aspects of National Go Fishing Day 2025 is its low barrier to entry. Anyone can participate, regardless of age or experience level. That makes it an excellent fit for outreach to families or non-boaters.

Ideas to consider:

Host a “Try Fishing” station on the dock with loaner rods, simple instruction, and adult supervision
Offer family package discounts that bundle fishing access with fuel, food, or slip rentals
Partner with local schools or youth groups for a summer learning activity

The Take Me Fishing First Catch Centers™ program offers a mobile, hands-on blueprint for introducing newcomers to angling, equipped with rods, tackle, and conservation education—ideal for structured learning events or smaller standalone clinics supported by local volunteers

Social Media and Storytelling

Documenting and sharing your marina’s participation in National Go Fishing Day 2025 can help build a stronger presence online. Feature customer photos (with permission), staff fishing tips, or short video clips from the docks.

Hashtags like #NationalGoFishingDay and #TakeMeFishing help place your content in larger conversations and can attract attention from regional partners or outdoor recreation networks.

For more visibility, post short reels or TikToks showing bait prep, sunrise boat launches, or family catches. These slice-of-life visuals resonate with both experienced boaters and newcomers.

Building Momentum Beyond the Day

While the holiday itself is informal, the energy and engagement it brings can be carried throughout the summer. Customer interest generated on June 18 can lead to more participation in future tournaments, increased slip rentals, or better fishing service sales from your marina store.

You can follow up with post-event content—thank-you emails, photo recaps, or invitations to upcoming dockside events—to keep the connection going. Even casual observers who didn’t attend may decide to visit next time if they see the fun they missed.

To plan an event or build content around this observance, resources and promotional tools are available at:

About MariCorp

Maricorp is one of the largest floating boat dock manufacturing and construction companies in the United States, specializing in galvanized steel floating docks and boat lift systems. With projects spanning coast-to-coast, Maricorp provides marina consultation and design, marine construction, marina repair and renovation, and boat dock disaster response and demolition.