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This Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Statewide Survey of Licensed Anglers seeks to be as consistent as possible with previous statewide surveys conducted for the TPWD and as responsive to new problems and opportunities. In order to provide the TPWD with greater insight on the current market segment of anglers, a statewide mail survey of 3,554 individuals who purchased a resident fishing license (Type 201), a combination resident hunting and fishing license (Type 100), or a “Super Combo” combination
fishing and hunting license (Type 111) during state fiscal year 200 4 was completed. The survey seeks to provide fisheries managers with information on anglers’ fishing practices, experiences, attitudes, and opinions on a variety of issues of management concern as well as a variety of other topics. As this was the sixth statewide angler survey since 1989, longitudinal trends in responses were also assessed.
A computer-generated random sample of 3,554 anglers was selected from the fishing license files maintained by the TPWD. An overall response rate of 40% was achieved. Survey responses were weighted using a logistic regression model to account for biases associated with angler non-response . This enabled population estimates to be generalized to all resident anglers that purchased a fishing license in Texas in FY 2004.
- A majority (83%) of individuals that purchased a resident fishing license in state fiscal year 200 4 (September 1, 2004 – August 31, 2004) reported they fished at least once in the previous twelve months.
- Of those license holders that fished in the previous 12 months, 74% reported they had fished in fresh water and 61% reported they had fished in salt water.
- A majority (85%) of licensed resident freshwater anglers are males. Most categorized themselves as white (89%) and not of Spanish/Hispanic origin (92%). Their average age was 46 years.
- Most (32%) freshwater anglers resided in Houston area; the next five areas in order of decreasing percentage were Dallas (18%), Ft. Worth (7%), San Antonio (7%), Austin (6%), and Beaumont (5%).
- On average, freshwater anglers reported fishing 27 days in fresh water in 2004. Black basses remain the species grouping most preferred by anglers, with 52% indicating a first choice preference for the black basses.
- A majority (94%) of freshwater anglers did not participate in black bass fishing tournaments in 2004. More anglers participated in salt water fishing tournaments than in black bass tournaments.
- When asked how satisfied they were with fresh water fishing in Texas, about 56% indicated they were very to extremely satisfied. Levels of freshwater angler satisfaction have increased slightly since the previous survey.
- A majority (70%) of freshwater anglers were willing to substitute another site for their preferred fishing location.
- About 36% of freshwater anglers fished a lake in Texas with a slot limit in 2004.
 A majority (86%) of licensed, resident saltwater anglers are males. Most categorized themselves as white (86%), and not of Spanish/Hispanic origin (87%). Their average age was 4 8 years old. The population of nonwhite saltwater anglers has grown slightly since the previous survey, as has the average age.
- A majority of saltwater anglers (81%) lived in one of five large three-digit zip code areas of Texas: Houston (49%), Corpus Christi (10%), Beaumont (8%), San Antonio (8%), and Austin (6%). A majority of saltwater anglers now reside in the Southeastern region of the state.
- On average, saltwater anglers reported fishing 20 days in salt water in 2004. This is a slight increase from the average reported in the 2001 survey.
- Forty percent of anglers reported they preferred to catch red drum while fishing in salt water. Fewer anglers indicated a first, second, or third choice preference for large offshore fishes like king mackerel, sailfish or marlin than in the 2001 survey.
- Nineteen percent of saltwater anglers participated in saltwater fishing tournaments in 2004. Participation in saltwater tournaments has increased slight ly since the last survey and was much higher than black bass tournament participation among freshwater anglers.
- When asked how satisfied they were with saltwater fishing in Texas, a majority (56%) of saltwater angler indicated they were very to extremely satisfied.
In the event that a fishing area experiences a health-related closure, most saltwater anglers (46%) reported that they would choose another location to go fishing.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department funded this research project with additional funding support from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
Final Report
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.
Picture 2: WO 2977 Fishing. Photo by
Tom Smylie, courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Picture 3: Fly Fisherman. Photo by Steve Hillebrand, courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Back to top
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