Executive Summary
A mail survey of 1,965 black
bass anglers was conducted during the spring of 1992 by
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in cooperation
with Texas A&M University. Anglers were selected if they
listed black bass as their most preferred freshwater
species on a previous statewide survey. A total of 1,278
anglers responded to the mail questionnaire. When
non-deliverables were excluded, the effective response
rate was 69%. The survey was designed to provide
information on the characteristics, fishing habits,
motivations and attitudes of resident bass anglers in
Texas. Additionally, bass anglers' opinions regarding
various management alternatives were solicited.
Texas Black Bass Fishing
Angler Survey
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Almost all (87%)
Texas bass anglers were male. Their average age
was 42 years. |
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Anglers fished an
average of 29 days during the previous 12
months, with 24 days in freshwater. Anglers
reported an average of almost 28 years of
freshwater fishing experience. |
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Anglers fished an
average of 23 days for black bass during the
previous 12 months, and have been fishing for
bass for 21 years. |
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Anglers use an
average of 3 rod and reel combinations on a bass
fishing trip. |
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Only about 11% of
the anglers are members of a bass fishing club. |
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26% reported bass
fishing was their most important outdoor
activity. |
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The five most
frequently fished lakes for black bass were Sam
Rayburn, Lake Conroe, Lake Fork, Toledo Bend and
Lake Livingston. |
Bass Angler Opinions on Fishery Management Options
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Most (65%)
anglers reported they would support regulations
limiting the number of big bass (over 21") an
angler could keep in one year. But only 27%
would support a requirement that all bass over
21" be released. However, 31% would support this
requirement if allowed to keep big bass in live
wells until measured. |
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More than
one-half (63%) of the anglers preferred to have
regulations customized for each body of water
rather than standardized statewide by species. |
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Nearly one-half
of the anglers reported they would support an
increase in the number of lakes with 14"-21"
slot limits (48%) or 14"-18" slot limits (45%). |
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Only 35% of
anglers would support designation of additional
Texas lakes as catch and release only for bass,
and only 28% would support a catch and release
requirement on their favorite fishing lake. |
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Three-quarters
(75%) of anglers were moderately to extremely
satisfied with black bass fishing in Texas. |
Attitudes on Black Bass Fishing Tournaments
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About 19% of the
anglers participated in bass fishing tournaments
in the previous 12 months. One-half of these
anglers fished in only 1 tournament during the
year. |
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Approximately
one-half (51%) of the bass anglers supported the
idea of organized black bass fishing tournaments
in Texas. Fewer (40%) of the anglers supported
tournaments which offered large cash prizes. |
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Most (60%)
anglers supported a requirement that tournaments
obtain a permit from TPWD. Also, most (69%)
anglers felt a percentage of the tournament
purse should be returned to TPWD to support bass
management activities. |
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Most (64%)
anglers felt bass caught during tournaments and
released at weighin survive. |
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Most (54%)
anglers had fished on a lake while a tournament
was in progress, and of these, less than
one-half (43%) felt the tournament had a
negative impact on the quality of their fishing. |
Economics of Bass Fishing Trips
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On average,
anglers spent $91 on a typical bass fishing
trip. The trip lasted 2 days, and involved
one-way travel of 60 miles. |
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Based on the
survey results and license sales, there are
approximately 354,000 licensed black bass
anglers in Texas. These anglers spent an
estimated $301,350,000 last year on bass fishing
trips. This value is for trip costs only and
does not include equipment (i.e., boats, rods,
reels, etc.). |
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Major
expenditures on bass fishing trips were
transportation, lodging, bait and tackle, and
food, drink and ice. |
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