The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks (GFP) have named their 2024 campaign to encourage people to fish “Reel In Memories”. Anglers who participate can earn decals and qualify for prize drawings.
State parks and recreation areas are getting display signs with their name and so are local bodies of water so that people can pose with their catches for photos and share them on social media. The GFP say visitors can expect to see naturalists in parks hosting educational programs on fishing, fishing promotions and more fishing tournaments. The Department says they will also host events for kids and women to encourage more of them to participate in fishing as well.
South Dakota also recently received a grant of $25,000 from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation which allowed the GFP to purchase a new trailer with an assortment of fishing related equipment that will be staffed by an intern, touring the state for various fishing events and promotions throughout the summer. Once winter rolls around again, the trailer will be outfitted with ice fishing gear.
In 2023 there were 133,433 in-state fishing licenses sold, about 1,000 more than in 2022. In 2023 there were 93,583 licenses sold to out-of-state fisherman, about 2,000 less than in 2022.