Love Of Fishing Influences Anglers' Choices, Including Retirement, Vacation And Spending Decisions

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J., Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fishing may be considered a sport to some, but to serious anglers, it is a lifestyle that drives how they spend their money, where they vacation and retire, and what they do in their free time, according to findings from an online survey of 506 avid anglers commissioned by Honeywell (NYSE: HON).

As an industry, fishing has significant economic impact. Research conducted by Southwick Associates, Inc., on behalf of the American Sportfishing Association in January 2013 indicates that 33 million anglers in the U.S. spend an estimated $48 billion per year on expenses related to the sport, including equipment, transportation and lodging. These expenditures support 828,000 jobs. Southwick Associates, a leading research firm specializing in angling, also conducted Honeywell's recent survey.

The findings released today by Honeywell, manufacturer of Spectra^® fiber – one of the world's leading braided fishing line materials – demonstrate the economic influence of fishing. For example, if given the choice, more than half (55 percent) of the avid anglers surveyed say they would rather buy new fishing gear than home improvement materials, home electronics, clothing or other items. This increases to 69 percent for those anglers who consider themselves "advanced" in their sport. 

"Anglers are a very passionate and dedicated group, and they strive to achieve great outcomes from the time and money they put into their sport," said Mark Saholsky, global business manager for Honeywell's Advanced Fibers and Composites business. "Spectra fiber is a super high strength, durable fiber used in top brands of high-performance braided fishing line. Spectra fiber represents the state-of-the art in the fishing industry, and serious anglers look for fishing line that contains Spectra."

Surveyed anglers confirmed that they are serious about spending time fishing. Seven in 10 indicate that if they had a choice regarding how to spend a day, they would spend it fishing, as opposed to spending it with family, at a sporting event or participating in other outdoor activities, such as hiking or hunting. Two-thirds of survey respondents (67 percent) admit to having missed work in order to go fishing. More than half (54 percent) of anglers would give up a chance to meet the president in exchange for a perfect fishing day.

Anglers also indicated that fishing plays a big role in their vacation and retirement plans: Seventy-one percent said that they have taken a vacation where the primary purpose was to go on a fishing trip that lasted a day or more. Advanced anglers were even more likely (87 percent) to have done so.  In addition:

• Of those anglers who have not planned a vacation where the primary purpose was fishing, 79 percent reported that they occasionally or frequently chose to spend time fishing on past vacations, even when their travel companions didn't want to join them. 
• Eighty-three percent of anglers who aren't retired indicate that they plan to shape their retirement plans around the ability to fish, and 88 percent of those anglers say they would like to fish more often in retirement than they currently do.
• Of anglers who are already retired, nearly all (96 percent) report fishing as much, if not more, than they did before retirement. 

"Spectra-based braided fishing line is a great option for anglers who take their time on the water seriously. Anglers should look for fishing line containing Spectra fiber to ensure they are using the most durable, strongest and most sensitive fishing line on the market," Saholsky said.

"We have conducted extensive research on the fishing industry, and this survey by Honeywell confirms that serious anglers are willing to devote significant time and attention to their sport," said Rob Southwick, president, Southwick Associates. "It is not surprising that having new equipment, such as fishing line with the latest Spectra fiber technology, would be important to them."

Spectra fiber is used in premium braided fishing line and enables it to be four times stronger than nylon fishing line of a similar diameter. Pound-for-pound, Spectra fiber is 15 times stronger than steel but is light enough to float, which helps fishing line manufacturers develop stronger, more durable and more sensitive braided fishing lines so anglers can cast more easily and hold onto prize catches. Spectra fiber is highly resistant to chemicals and damaging ultraviolet light, and is made from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process.

Honeywell's Spectra brand licensing program helps anglers ensure they are purchasing fishing line containing genuine Spectra fiber. Under the program, fishing line brands can recognize Spectra fiber as the best and most trusted material for their products and license the Spectra trademark. In turn, they will guarantee that 100 percent of the high-molecular-weight polyethylene (HMPE) fiber used in their braided fishing line is genuine Spectra fiber, and undergo periodic quality control tests by Honeywell to ensure the use of genuine Spectra fiber. A "Spectra by Honeywell" logo at the top left-hand corner of a fishing line package indicates a fishing line brand's inclusion in the program.

Industrial applications for Spectra fiber include security netting, rope, cordage, and fishing line, as well as curtains designed to protect windows and doors during hurricanes. The fiber is also commonly used in bullet-resistant armor.

Honeywell maintains an active Spectra fiber and ballistic materials research program focused on continuous improvement and development of high-performance materials.

For more information about Spectra fiber for fishing line, visit www.spectrafishing.com.

Methodology
The online survey was conducted during the second quarter of 2014 and was fielded by Southwick Associates, Inc. (http://www.southwickassociates.com). The survey comprised 506 responses from "avid" anglers – those who had fished in the past year on at least a minimum of ten days, considered themselves at least of regular skill level, and fished either fresh or saltwater. The survey's margin of error is +/- 4.4%.

Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT) is a global leader in developing advanced materials, process technologies and automation solutions. PMT's Advanced Materials businesses manufacture a wide variety of high-performance products, including environmentally friendlier refrigerants and materials used to manufacture end products such as bullet-resistant armor, nylon, computer chips and pharmaceutical packaging. Process technologies developed by PMT's UOP business (www.uop.com) form the foundation for most of the world's refiners, efficiently producing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, petrochemicals and renewable fuels. PMT's Process Solutions business (www.honeywellprocess.com) is a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, industrial power generation, chemicals and petrochemicals, biofuels, life sciences, and metals, minerals and mining industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

SOURCE Honeywell