In PA fishing activity peak was around 1990 since then there is a steady decline.

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/licsal2.htm

Mind that in 2007 the price went up so the sales have most likely declined. As far as I know the 2007 data is not yet availiable.

As to the raise in the anmount of money spend there are three contibuting factors.

1. Inflation
2. People buy a lot of expensive stuff that sees very little use
3. Equipment we by for ourselves (fisher folk) is of much higher quality that what people used to by in the yesteryear. On top of it we tend to by a lot more of it.
My wifes father who fished his whole life owned two outfits. I have about 20. My son in law buys two very high end outfits every year (plus all the stuff for the kids). people used to go fishing with the vest and maybe a small tackle bag. These days we have to have hunderds of different things. The same guy who buys the expensive rods is complaining that his 16 foot Tracker does not have enough room for all of his lures and such...

He is not the only one...

I see them bass guys at the lakes all the time.

PS. How about them $30 000.00 + boats I see everywhere? That will increase the amount of money spend...