Surveying Marine Recreational Finfish Anglers in Georgia
 Since March of 2000,
biologists with the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources (CRD GADNR) have been working in
conjunction with the federal NOAA Fisheries (formerly the National
Marine Fisheries Service, NMFS) to conduct a survey of recreational
saltwater anglers in coastal Georgia. This survey, entitled
the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS),
produces estimates of recreational finfish catch (including fish
released as well as those retained as harvest). Additionally,
the MRFSS estimates numbers of recreational saltwater anglers
(participation) and numbers of fishing trips (effort). These
data are necessary for determining appropriate regulations (i.e.,
creel and length limit laws), provide catch data for fishery
management plans, and track trends in angler participation and
landings.
What are the main components of the MRFSS?
The MRFSS combines data from two separate surveys to
produce estimates of participation, effort and catch:
- Households located in the coastal region are contacted by
telephone (where coastal region represents those counties within 25
or 50 miles of the coastline, with the region determined by time of
year). If one or more of the residents are saltwater anglers,
they are asked to participate in a telephone survey in which they
are asked a series of questions designed to determine the number of
saltwater angling trips taken by each angler in the household
during a designated period of time. From these
telephone interviews, an estimate of the
participation (number of anglers) and effort (number of trips) in
saltwater recreational fishing is calculated. This telephone
survey is performed by a federally contracted survey company
equipped with computerized telephone
services.
- Saltwater anglers returning from a fishing trip may be asked to
participate in an intercept survey. The
interview, which takes only a few minutes to complete, consists of
two major sections:
1) A background portion addresses gear type, number of
anglers, hours spent fishing, general area fished (inshore vs.
offshore), whether they were targeting a specific fish species, and
the anglers county and state of residence.
2) The latter portion of the interview focuses on finfish
catch. We ask questions pertaining both to the number and
type of fish released as well as those fish that were kept.
We also ask to measure and weigh fish retained by the
anglers.
The intercept surveys are conducted by GADNR CRD personnel at
fishing access points within the six coastal counties of
Georgia.
Do I have to participate in these
surveys?
Participation in both surveys is voluntary, however we rely heavily
on cooperation with the recreational angling community. High
levels of participation in the MRFSS will benefit recreational
anglers by providing more precise and accurate catch and
participation estimates necessary for sound fishery management
principles and conservation at both the state and federal
level.
 Where and when do these intercept interviews take
place?
Since private boat anglers harvest most of Georgia's regulated
marine sportfish, we conduct approximately 50% of our annual 1,500
interviews on those fishing access sites utilized by the private
boat angler, i.e., boat ramps and marinas, in order to intercept a
larger proportion of anglers and their catch. The remaining
50% of our interviews are split between anglers who are returning
from a charter fishing trip and those who are fishing from the
shore (i.e., fishing pier, dock, creek bank). Our survey
personnel conduct interviews on weekdays and weekends from March
through December at access sites throughout coastal Georgia. The
MRFSS is not conducted in Georgia during January and February when
saltwater fishing activity is very limited.
How does the GADNR use these data?
Through data gathered from the MRFSS we are able to supply detailed
catch, release and harvest summaries, fish length and creel (catch
per angler) data, as well as angler demographic information.
These data are not only essential for monitoring recreational
fishing pressure and assessing the impact of current regulations,
but are crucial for determining changes from historical data as
well. Additionally, the fish length and creel data can be
correlated with age/length and reproductive data necessary to
conduct stock assessments and ensure sound management decisions for
Georgia's sportfish populations.
What were the results from the surveys?
The following tables and graphics briefly summarize annual
catch and harvest data for 2000 through 2003. Additional
information includes angler residency, fish species targeted by
anglers (i.e., the particular fish species for which they were
fishing), area of water fished (inshore vs. offshore), as well as
fishing mode (private, shore and charter angling trips). A
copy of the datasheet used by interviewers to collect data during
intercept surveys is also included.
2000 Survey Data
(pdf)
Creel Survey Datasheet (pdf)
2001 Survey Data (pdf)
2002 Survey Data (pdf)
2003 Survey Data (pdf)
2004 Survey Data (pdf)
If you wish to view additional catch, effort and participation
data from Georgia or other Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific states,
please visit the MRFSS section of the NOAA Fisheries website (www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/recreational/index.html).
There you will find a more detailed explanation of the survey
protocol as well as gain access to additional data summaries than
are provided here.
For additional information concerning the GADNRs participation,
email the Marine Recreational Fisheries Program, Coastal Resources
Division (Brunswick, GA) via kathy_knowlton@dnr.state.ga.us
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