Surveys were mailed to 2,073 anglers.  Responses were received from 1,102 anglers.  Of this total, 1,005 were returned usable for an effective response rate of 57%.

Anglers reported fishing an average of 26.9 days (range = 0 to 310 days/year) in the previous twelve months.  More of their effort was directed toward saltwater angling (19 days/year) than freshwater angling (8 days/year).  This is similar to the number of days fished by saltwater anglers in saltwater in 1995, when the average number of days fishing in saltwater was 16 (Ditton, Bohnsack and Hunt 1998) and the number of days reported in the previous statewide survey (18 saltwater days/year)(Bohnsack and Ditton 1999).

The majority of days fishing in saltwater was in the bay systems, either from a boat (9 days/year) or from shore (5 days/year).  Most (68%) anglers reported fishing in the Gulf of Mexico from 1 to 10 days in the previous twelve months, with an average of 2 days/year fished from a boat and an average of 2 days/year from the shore.  Most (48%) anglers reported they had fished about the same number of days as the previous year; this pattern is not new.

A strong majority (85%) of anglers reported that they did not travel outside of Texas to participate in saltwater fishing.  For those that did travel elsewhere to fish in salt water, most (77%, or about 73,000 anglers) fished between 1 and 5 days, with an average of 5 days/year.  The majority of those that fished out of state went to Louisiana (26%), Florida (17%), Mexico (11%) and Alaska (8%).

The estimated number of anglers that fished in bays during the previous twelve months (495,629 anglers) fished mainly in two bays: Galveston Bay (35%) and Aransas Bay (17%).

Most (60%) anglers accessed the Gulf through three communities: Galveston, Port Aransas and Rockport.

A plurality of anglers reported spending one or more days surf fishing on a Gulf Beach (41%) followed by fishing offshore oil/gas platforms (33%).  Our results indicated relatively small percentages of saltwater anglers participating in fly fishing and speargun fishing while scuba diving.

A strong majority (82%)of anglers reported they were “Moderately Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied” with saltwater fishing in Texas.  The percent of anglers in the “Very Satisfied” and “Extremely Satisfied” category (46%) has decreased since the last statewide survey, when 56% of saltwater anglers reported they were “Very Satisfied” to “Extremely Satisfied” (Bohnsack and Ditton 1999).

A plurality (65%) of saltwater anglers indicated they did not subscribe to any fishing or boating magazine.  A majority (72%) of Texas saltwater anglers reported they had Internet access.  Almost two-thirds (60%) of Texas saltwater anglers also reported that they would be interested in receiving a weekly fishing report from TPW via e-mail.  However, at this point in time, slightly less than one-half (47%) reported they were willing to buy fishing licenses over the Internet.  Most anglers report they make use of newspaper columns and articles (33%) or their local bait or tackle shop (32%) as a source of fishing information.

Most anglers (58%) reported they have not seen any bottom scarring/prop scarring in Texas waters.  When asked what management option they prefer if bottom scarring/prop scarring was determined to be a problem in the area they fish most often, the option of increasing education efforts and monitoring the situation was the most preferred (50%), with a requirement for no motoring outside of marked boating lanes being the second most preferred (28%).

Most anglers agreed with the following statements: “the fish I catch in Texas waters are safe to eat” (86%), “pollution in saltwater bays is increasing” (64%), “TPW should temporarily close certain bays, estuaries, or grass flats when they are susceptible to damage” (57%), “red drum (redfish) populations are increasing” (62%) and “spotted seatrout populations are increasing” (53%).

When asked to report how a red tide or public health fishing advisory would alter their fishing plans, most anglers reported they would choose an alternate location along the Texas coast to go saltwater fishing (49%), or cancel their trip (25%).  We also asked anglers if they had been affected by a red tide event or public health fishing advisory; most (90%) had not.

The majority of Texas saltwater anglers preferred rig jackets, decks or other oil production structures, concrete culverts and clay pipes, or blocks made of concrete for future artificial reef construction.

Most (66%) saltwater anglers in Texas reported that they had not been checked by a game warden “since this time last year.”  Among those that were checked, the vast majority (97%) indicated that they were treated in a courteous and professional manner.

Most anglers reported their closest fishing companions always or almost always supported and abided by TPW fishing regulations, tried to prevent damage to seagrass from their boat motors and abided by TPW licensing requirements when fishing in saltwater.  Likewise, most reported their fishing companions never or almost never “fudge a bit” when measuring the fish they catch, take two limits in a single day or exceed daily bag limits.  About one-half of the anglers said their closest fishing companions sometimes practice catch and release and sometimes release all the fish they catch.

Most (84%) anglers disagree with the statements “I don’t like to eat the fish I usually catch,” (84%) and “I can’t always identify the types of fish I catch” (52%).  Statements where the majority of anglers reported agreement included: “The overall cost of fishing is too high” (57%), “The differences between State and Federal fishing regulations are sometimes confusing” (54%) and “Fishing licenses are too expensive” (52%).

Most anglers agreed with the following statements regarding various issues concerning licensing and stamps: “TPW should continue to require a saltwater stamp in addition to a general license to support saltwater fisheries management and law enforcement” (70%), “The saltwater stamp is well worth it in terms of the benefits I receive from saltwater fishing” (65%) and “Anglers should purchase a saltwater stamp in addition to a general license to support saltwater fisheries management and law enforcement” (62%).  There was strong support for a different sort of temporary license than is currently available: “TPW should offer a 1-day fishing license that will let an individual fish in either saltwater (no saltwater stamp required) or freshwater” (71%).

A central concern of personnel in the TPW Coastal Fisheries Branch when the survey was being conducted was the proposed increase in saltwater stamp costs to fund the buyback portion of the Shrimp, Crab and Finfish Limited Entry Program.  Overall, there was strong support among anglers for this idea.  About two thirds of the anglers supported the proposed license increase at the following three levels: $1 level (70%), $2 level (64%) and $3 level (64%).

When asked if they used live fish as bait for saltwater fishing, most (73%) Texas saltwater anglers responded in the affirmative.  Most (69%, or about 314,000 anglers) of these anglers responded that they used live fish as bait for 1 to 10 days of their total saltwater fishing days, with an average of 13.31 days.  When asked about the availability, cost and quality of live fish as bait, most anglers agreed with the following two statements: “The cost of the live fish I buy for saltwater fishing is too high” (65%) and “The quality of the live fish I buy for saltwater fishing is good” (66%).

Most (76%) anglers reported they used live shrimp as bait while fishing.  Again, most (70%, or about 333,000 anglers) of the anglers that used live shrimp as bait reported doing so from 1 to 10 days during the year.  When asked about the availability, cost and quality of live shrimp they use for bait, most anglers agreed with the following statements: “The cost of the live shrimp I buy for saltwater fishing is too high” (69%) and “The quality of the live shrimp I buy for saltwater fishing is good” (68%).

Most anglers (69%) support or strongly support the current regulations for red drum.  Slightly less than one-half (47%) opposed the release of all red drum caught over 28 inches in length.  Also, less than a majority (47%) of anglers opposed a daily bag limit of one red drum over 28 inches per day.  Angler feelings toward increasing the maximum size limit from 28 inches to 30 inches received nearly an equal proportion of support (40%) and opposition (35%).  When asked which management option they most prefer, most (44%) reported preferring what they know best, the current regulations.

Most surprising is the percent of saltwater anglers (60%) that reported fishing specifically for red drum during the past year.  This is 8 percentage points more than the proportion of anglers (52%) that reported fishing specifically for red drum in 1995 (Ditton et al. 1998).  However, the number of anglers that have used their “red drum trophy tag” during the past year (12%) has remained about the same as it was in 1995 (12%)(Ditton et al. 1998).  Of those anglers that used the “red drum trophy tag,” 30%, or approximately 22,000 anglers, reported sending it in to receive a “bonus tag”; 36% of these anglers, or about 8,000 anglers, reported they actually used the “bonus tag.”

Most (59%) anglers reported there was another outdoor recreational activity that could provide the same satisfaction as fishing.  Of the activities anglers reported, freshwater fishing, hunting, camping and golf were reported most often.  When asked what their most important outdoor recreational activities were besides saltwater fishing, the greatest proportion of anglers reported hunting, freshwater fishing, camping, or golf.

Most (80%) anglers reported they had not started participating in any new outdoor recreational activities over the past 12 months.  Of those anglers that indicated they had done so, the most popular were golf, camping, canoeing/kayaking and hunting.

We asked Texas saltwater anglers to indicate their satisfaction with TPW on a five-point scale.  Most (64%) anglers were “Very or Extremely satisfied”, with only 7% of anglers being “Not at all or Slightly satisfied”.