Could fishing be TikTok’s new viral sport?

This entry was posted on 7th August, 2023 by Guest Writer

In this article, Guest Writer, Dmytro examines how TikTok, one of the biggest social media platforms, presents fishing.

TikTok is home to some of the wackiest trends, funniest skits and a whole host of online celebrities. On a platform where anything can go viral, we’ve seen normal people become opinion leaders overnight.

On TikTok niche hobbies and interests become part of the mainstream. TikTok has interesting and strange trends like "pack an order with me" and "day in the life with me".

One hobby in particular that has begun to re-emerge within the Gen Z community is fishing. As a sport once associated with an older generation, you wouldn’t believe that #FishTok has over 20 billion views.

(Image Source: TikTok: @Officialfishboss)

The question is, could TikTok be bringing fishing back into fashion? From learning about species of fish to viral sporting scandals. Fishing has been quite the topic of conversation on the video platform.

Let's explore #FishTok, a popular trend on TikTok, which is gaining popularity among fishing enthusiasts worldwide.

What is #FishTok?

#FishTok first emerged in 2020, as a space where keen fishers could share clips of their favourite lockdown activities. TikTok users quickly got hooked on fish catching videos for carp and pike fishing.

The scandal that sent #FishTok viral

The #FishTok engagement soared in 2020, but in 2022 it hit mainstream on the For You Pages of TikTok.

In October 2022, the Lake Erie Fishing competition sent fishing viral on social media. Accusers accused Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky, two popular competitors, of cheating in an explosive weight reveal. The scandal quickly rose to fame online.

Accused of adding weights to their catch, the fishing video shows the crowd flurrying as the competitors argue. All perfect ingredients for a funny fishing video with the potential for virality.

The popular @officialfishboss posted the fishing TikTok, which reached over a million views. This sparked new conversations about the sport all over the globe.

One commenter expressed: “Is anyone else randomly on the fishing contest scandal side of TikTok even though they have never liked a single fishing video or is it just me?”

As the video was shared across social media, users that previously had no interest in the anglers of TikTok were avidly scrolling through #FishTok for more answers.

“It’s been kind of crazy to see other people be interested in all of this,” claims RJ Macalanda, owner of the TikTok page, @offcialfishboss.

“The biggest misconception about fishing is that it’s a ‘sit and wait’ sport, so the positive thing about this is people are more curious about the fishing industry or just fishing in general. It’s definitely a lot more high octane than what other people on the outside are used to.”

The question is, could the rise of #FishTok alone inspire a new generation of keen fishermen?

Is fishing becoming a Gen Z sport?

The hashtag #CarpFishingUK alone has got over 166 million views on TikTok.

According to new research from Clawford Lakes, fishing-related keywords have seen a 26% increase in searches since January 2022.

From rods to polarised glasses, we’ve seen a rise in people buying fishing gear. Even a larger influx of young anglers line the shores this summer.

According to fishing influencer Bev Clifford, it’s the social aspect of angling drawing in a new generation of post-Covid fishers.

“There is a great social element to angling, I’ve met so many wonderful people and made great memories. It’s been proven that being outside, in nature, and near water has massive benefits for mental health and well-being. It’s a friendly, welcoming and enjoyable sport for people of all ages, abilities and gender,” she says.

Due to the mental health crisis, the UK’s Environment Agency aims to get 1 million people into fishing in 2023. This is thanks to angling's positive mental health benefits.

Fishing continues to become a sport of conversation on social media. The sunny season ahead could see more young anglers take to the water than ever before.