Almost one-half (49%) of AKMBT anglers resided in Dare County, North Carolina. About 12% and 39% of AKMBT anglers, respectively, resided elsewhere in North Carolina and out-of-state.

Most (57%) AKMBT anglers from outside of Dare County resided in the following zip code areas: Norfolk, VA (26%), Richmond, VA (17%), and Rocky Mount, NC (14%).

Most (57%) AKMBT anglers reported fishing was their most important or second most important outdoor recreation activity.

On average, AKMBT anglers fished 18 days over the previous 12 months or about six more days than the statewide population of saltwater anglers (12 days) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau of the Census 1997). On average, AKMBT anglers fished in one other fishing tournament in the previous 12 months.

Only a small percentage (13%) of AKMBT anglers were members of a fishing club or organization. This contrasts sharply with the 1999 Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament where 44% belonged to a fishing membership organization.

Most AKMBT anglers (64%) reported they (or someone in their households) owned a powerboat. The average length of their longest boat was 30 feet.

Anglers participated in an average of two previous AKMBT events (excluding the 1999 event).

Overall, 77% of AKMBT anglers reported they were very or extremely satisfied with the 1999 tournament event.

Average tournament-related expenditures (not including tournament registration fees) by AKMBT survey respondents were extrapolated to all AKMBT anglers ($304,689). Overall AKMBT-related expenditures by locals and non-local North Carolinians totaled $148,201.

1999 AKMBT fees ($34,000) were not included in the economic impact assessment because a detailed analysis of where these monies were spent by tournament officials would have been required. Thus, estimates of total economic output are conservative. To the extent that more of these registration monies are spent locally on goods and services, additional economic output will occur in Dare County.

North Carolina residents (not from Dare County) and non-residents of the state participating in the AKMBT spent $189,949 in Dare County. This constitutes new monies to Dare County.

Major expenditures by AKMBT anglers in Dare County were for charter fees (28%), “other” (misc. retail and service items) (13%), restaurant meals (9%), and lodging (9%).

Purchases made by 1999 AKMBT anglers provide the basis for estimating total economic impacts of the event. These initial economic effects ripple through the economy leading to a total impact that exceeds that of the original purchases by anglers. When IMPLAN multipliers that averaged 1.9 were applied to expenditures, additional output was generated in the local economy.

The estimated $189,950 in direct expenditures by non-Dare County anglers participating in the AKMBT for local goods and services generated an additional $148,643 in economic output. This resulted in a total economic output of $338,592.

Non-residents who came to North Carolina fish in the AKMBT spent $156,488 in the state; mostly in Dare County ($152,364). Non-resident expenditures generated an additional $204,811 in economic output for a total economic output at the state level of $361,299.