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Click Here for Final Report (1.01 MB, PDF) A Socio-economic Study of Licensed Senior Anglers in Texas Yung-Ping (Emilio) Tseng
For several years, the total number of licensed anglers nationwide has been declining. Nevertheless, the percent share of senior anglers has been increasing in the angling market according to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife- Associated Outdoor Recreation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1992; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2007). The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) understands the need to retain as many anglers and their license revenue as possible and therefore, have initiated a license for the 65 and over group. They did so in an effort to continue to serve this angler group and encourage more of them to remain active in recreational fishing. A mail survey of 2,000 individuals that purchased a Special Resident Fishing Package license (Revenue codes 234, 234, 236, 506, 507, and 508) during fiscal year 2005 was completed to provide the TPWD with greater insight on this particular angler segment. The survey provided fisheries managers with information on Texas resident senior anglers’ current characteristics, general fishing habits, attitudes, motivations, participations, expenditures, and opinions on a variety of issues of management concern, as well as a variety of other topics.
A majority (79%) of individuals that purchased a Special Resident Fishing Package license in state fiscal year 2005 (September 1, 2004 - August 31, 2005) reported they fished at least once in the previous twelve months. Of those resident senior fishing license holders that fished in the previous 12 months, 67% reported they had fished in fresh water and 53% reported they had fished in salt water. Freshwater Anglers A majority (87%) of senior freshwater anglers are males. Most categorized themselves as white (94%) and not of Spanish/Hispanic origin (99%). Their average age was 70 years. A majority (79%) of senior freshwater anglers indicated they were retired. However, about 12% of seniors reported they were still employed full-time. Most (63%) senior freshwater anglers lived in one of five large three-digit zip code areas of Texas: Houston (26%), Dallas (19%), Fort Worth (7%), Beaumont (6%) and Austin (5%). On average, senior freshwater anglers reported fishing 23 days in fresh water in the previous 12 months. Black bass remain the species preferred by anglers, with 42% indicating a first choice preference for black bass. Most (45%) senior freshwater anglers reported fishing less frequently in the past 12 months than five years ago. When asked how satisfied they were with fresh water fishing in Texas, about 52% indicated they were very to extremely satisfied. Levels of senior freshwater angler satisfaction were consistent with the general population of freshwater anglers in the previous statewide angler survey. A majority (57%) of senior freshwater anglers reported there were factors that prevented or constrained them from fishing as often as they would prefer. Saltwater Anglers A majority (85%) of senior saltwater anglers are males. Most categorized themselves as white (93%), and not of Spanish/Hispanic origin (97%). Their average age was 70 years old. A majority (78%) of senior saltwater anglers indicated their employment status was retired. However, about 14% of seniors reported they were employed full time. A majority of senior saltwater anglers (77%) lived in one of five large three-digit zip code areas of Texas: Houston (46%), Corpus Christi (13%), Beaumont (6%), McAllen (6%), and Victoria (6%). A majority of saltwater anglers now reside in the southeastern area of the state. On average, senior saltwater anglers reported fishing 17 days in salt water in 2005. This is 3 days less than the general population of saltwater anglers from the average reported in the 2005 statewide angler survey. When asked how satisfied they were with saltwater fishing in Texas, a majority (55%) of senior saltwater anglers indicated they were very to extremely satisfied. Discussion In general, there were some notable demographic differences between senior anglers and the general population of anglers studied previously. Most senior anglers are retired and as a result have more discretionary time than was the case when they were working full time. Likewise, as retirees, most senior anglers are on fixed incomes and this is likely to negatively impact the number of days they go fishing and how far they travel for their fishing. However, senior anglers indicated they were less constrained overall compared to the general population of anglers. Income differences likely played a role in how often senior anglers went fishing in the previous year. Seniors did not fish as often (days fished in the previous 12 months) as the general population of licensed anglers. However, perhaps as a means of dealing with their fixed income status and trying to enjoy their retirement to the fullest, seniors traveled further on their “typical” fishing trips, fished more days per trip but spent about $25 less per day on their fishing trips than the general angler population. With increasing gasoline costs, their future “fallback” position may be to stay close to home and fish more days per trip. In terms of freshwater species preferences, senior freshwater anglers likely favored more diverse target species than the general population of freshwater anglers. Senior anglers indicated they were more catch-oriented than the general angler population and much less interested in fishing as family recreation. Overall, the two angler groups exhibited some differences in their angling motivations and orientation to catching fish but there were many more similarities than differences as expected. The two angler groups were similar demographically in terms of race and ethnicity, gender, and residence location in Texas. In open-ended comments provided, senior anglers indicated strongly a need to lower the cost of senior license. Nevertheless, the requirement of a fishing license after anglers turned 65 did not undermine their overall satisfaction with fishing in Texas. It was suggested that TPWD needs to do everything possible to retain current senior anglers including the development of a Master Angler program for seniors. Thus, this group can be recognized as skilled and knowledgeable, enlisted to promote conservation behaviors among other less skilled anglers through outreach programs and overall be recognized as partners of the TPWD. Click Here for Final Report (1.01 MB, PDF) This project is titled “Towards an Understanding of Licensed Senior Anglers in Texas” and has been funded by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Austin, T.X. with additional funding support from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University System.
Dr. Robert B. Ditton ( r-ditton@tamu.edu) is the Principal Investigator for this project and Yung-Ping Tseng (yptseng@tamu.edu ) is the Research Assistant for this study. Dr. Ditton is affiliated with Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Picture 1: WO 4015 Fishing, Recreation. Photo by Fred Youngblood, courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
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