# Fishing is big business, and FXR founder says the sport’s growth is only getting started

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/fishing-is-big-business-and-fxr-founder-says-the-sports-growth-is-only-getting-started/
- Published: 2026-11-08T18:12:11+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T19:37:42+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/fishing-big-business-fxr-founder-says-sports-growth-only-getting-started
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Matt Robertson won a record $1.25 million bass fishing prize.
- The Champions had 60 competitors and a $3.25 million purse.
- An estimated 57 million Americans fished in 2025.

## Summary

Matt Robertson won a record $1.25 million at The Champions bass fishing tournament on 31 October, highlighting the sport’s growing commercial reach. FXR founder Milt Reimer says fishing’s broad appeal, spanning professionals and casual anglers, gives the industry room to keep expanding.

The three-day event at Old Hickory Lake near Nashville brought together 60 competitors from Bassmaster and Major League Fishing, with a total purse of $3.25 million. A 2026 industry report says 57 million Americans fished at least once in 2025, up from 50.1 million in 2019; FXR, a Canadian motorsports apparel company, has entered fishing apparel and sponsors several professional anglers.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.