ABSTRACTRecreational fishing extends beyond catching fish, by connecting individuals with nature, generating environmental stewards, and contributing to local, regional, and national economies. Multi‐ and inter‐disciplinary research, integrative management, and policy approaches can support better assessment of potential impacts of recreational fishing on social‐ecological systems. Transdisciplinary thinking supports managing recreational fisheries effectively, but poses challenges for researchers and managers balancing specialized expertise with innovative, boundary‐crossing perspectives in light of limited funding in a rapidly changing environment. The World Recreational Fishing Conference (WRFC) serves as the leading global scientific forum for addressing these challenges, by fostering interdisciplinary exchange among scientists, managers, policy makers, and stakeholders. Papers in this special issue represent the output of the last WRFC in Melbourne, Australia, in 2023. By reviewing the content of papers published in the present special issue, we illustrate the critical role of collaborative spaces, such as the WRFC series, in bridging different expertise and approaches and fostering innovation, thereby securing adaptive management and conservation of recreational fisheries in response to global changes. Evaluating the development of the WRFC over three decades highlights how this conference series represents a leading think tank serving the entire network of recreational fisheries professionals globally.