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, and niche hobbies and interests become part of the mainstream.
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: @Oficialfishboss)
The question is, could TikTok be bringing fishing back into fashion? From learning about different types of fish, to viral sporting scandals, fishing has been quite the topic of conversation on the video platform.
Following on from the success of other TikTok viral watersports such as paddleboarding, surfing, and swimming, let’s delve deeper into #FishTok and see what this could mean for keen fishers around the globe.
What is #FishTok?
#FishTok first emerged in 2020, as a space where keen fishers could share clips of their favourite lockdown activities. Filled with a range of river and sea fishing antics, TikTok consumers were quickly hooked on the likes of Carp and Pike fishing, itching to learn more about the sport.
Another area of #FishTok that blew up during the pandemic was the act of keeping fish. If you’re a keen TikToker, you’ll be familiar with the username ‘The Goldfish Guy’. With over 3.5 million TikTok followers, 21- year old Luke became something of an internet sensation during the first Covid lockdown.
Using his page to share clips of his goldfish, his channel quickly exploded in popularity. Users from all over the world would tune in daily, just to see Luke care for a play with what he called his ‘Goldfish army’.
The scandal that sent #FishTok viral
While #FishTok soared in engagement amongst the fishing community in 2020, it wasn't until 2022 that this small corner of the platform started to hit mainstream For You Pages.
In October 2022, the Lake Erie Fishing competition sent fishing viral on social media. After two popular competitors, Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky were accused of cheating in an explosive weight reveal, the scandal quickly rose to fame online.
After being accused of adding weights to their catch, expletives are thrown, the crowd flurries and the competitors argue, all perfect ingredients for a video with the potential for virality.
After being posted on a popular TikTok fishing page, @officialfishboss, the video alone got over a million views, starting new conversations about the sport all over the globe.
“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?” said one commenter. As the video continued to be shared across social media, users that had no interest in the sport beforehand were looking to experts to explain the scandal, and 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?
In the last year, #FishTok has blown up. As the niche hobby becomes something of an internet sensation, 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. As more digital natives strive to learn more about the sport, it has become a new point of interest for young people all over the globe.
From gloves to glasses, we’ve seen a rise in people buying fishing gear and an even larger influx of young anglers line the shores this season.
According to fishing influencer and Instagram famous fisherwoman Bev Clifford, it’s the social aspect of angling that is 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, ability and gender,” she says.
In fact, on the back of a global mental health crisis, the UK’s Environment Agency are aiming to get 1 million people into fishing in 2023, thanks to its positive mental health benefits.
As fishing continues to become a sport of conversation on social media, the sunny season ahead could see more young fishers take to the water than ever before.
