NARFS II Survey

Survey To Collect Economic Data From Recreational Anglers Along the Atlantic Coast

NARFS II Survey_10.09.20

NARFS II

OMB: 0648-0783

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North Atlantic
Recreational Fishing Survey
2021

Improve your fishing experiences!

Sponsored by NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service), Northeast Fisheries Science Center
This survey is voluntary and all responses are confidential.
Questions? Email Scott Steinback at [email protected]
OMB Control Number 0648-0783 expires XX/XX/20XX

ATLANTIC SALTWATER FISH IN THIS SURVEY
Black Sea Bass

Bluefish

Fluke/Summer Flounder

Scup/Porgy

Striped Bass

Weakfish

Average catch is 1-3lbs., 12” to 20” total length
Largest published recreational catch was 10lbs. 4oz.
Minimum legal size varies by state, ranging from 10” to 13”
total length
Possession limit varies by state, ranging from 20 to 25 fish
Popular bait include squid strips and small baitfish
Average catch is 6-8lbs., 18” to 36” total length
Largest published recreational catch was 31lbs. 12oz.
Minimum legal size varies by state, ranging from no
requirements to 12” total length
Possession limit varies by state, ranging from 10 to 15 fish
Popular bait include squid strips, silversides, and sand eels
Average catch is 2-5lbs., 14” to 20” total length
Largest published recreational catch was 22lbs. 7oz.
Minimum legal size varies by state, ranging from 14” to 21”
total length
Possession limit varies by state, ranging from 1 to 8 fish
Popular bait include squid, small baitfish, and bluefish belly
Average catch is 1-2lbs., 10” to 14” total length
Largest published recreational catch was 4lbs. 9oz.
Minimum legal size varies by state, ranging from 8” to 11”
total length
Possession limit varies by state, ranging from 8 to 50 fish
Popular bait include squid strips, small fish, sea worms, and
clams
Average catch is 10-18lbs., 30” to 36” total length
Largest published recreational catch was 125lbs.
Minimum legal size varies by state, ranging from 18” to 32”
total length
Possession limit varies by state, ranging from 0 to 2 fish
Popular bait include herring, menhaden, and mackerel
Average catch is 1-6lbs., 14” to 22” total length
Largest published recreational catch was 19lbs. 12oz.
Minimum legal size varies by state, ranging from 12” to 16”
total length
Posession limit varies by state, ranging from 1 to 8 fish
Popular bait include herring, menhaden, and mackerel

Section A: Your Saltwater Fishing Activities
The following questions help us understand the types of fishing trips anglers take.
1

How many total fishing trips for saltwater species did you make in 2020 during…
…the spring (March-May)?

…the fall (September-October)?

…the summer (June-August)?

…the winter (November-February)?

2 Within the last five years, which of the following species have you caught or tried to catch?

Fluke (Summer Flounder)
Black Sea Bass

None of these Species

Go to Section C on Page X

Check this box if you go fishing sometimes without any particular species in mind:

For each of the following fishing modes, please fill in the number of recreational fishing trips on which
you caught or targeted fluke or black sea bass during 2020.
…from shore?
…on a boat owned or rented by you or a friend?
…on a party boat or head boat (passenger fee covers a seat on the boat, usually 25 or more
people fishing per boat)?
…on a private charter boat (charter fee pays for the entire boat and captain’s services,
usually 1-10 people per boat)?

4 Rate your fishing preference for the following species from 1 (least preferred) to 6 (most preferred):
Bluefish

Scup (Porgy)

Black Sea Bass

Striped Bass

Fluke (Summer Flounder)

Weakfish

Other Flounders (not Fluke)

Other Fish

5 Rate the impact of these factors on your decision to go fishing from 1 (no impact) to 6 (high impact):
Size Limits (the smallest sized fish you can legally keep)
Bag Limits (how many fish you can legally keep per day)
Number of fish you expect to catch
Number of fish you expect to keep
Number of fish you have to throw back until you get a keeper
Timing of the open fishing season
Trip Length
Trip Cost
Weather
3

SECTION B: SALTWATER FISHING TRIPS
Suppose that you have the choice between two recreational saltwater fishing trips (Option 1 or Option 2) and not going
recreational saltwater fishing (Option 3). Below the table, indicate which of these three options would be your first
choice.
REGULATIONS
You are legally allowed to keep:
3 Fluke (Summer Flounder), 18” or longer
15 Black Sea Bass, 13” or longer

TRIP FEATURES
NUMBER OF FISH YOU
CATCH

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

4 Fluke

3 Fluke

40% chance of 1 Fluke
60% chance of 2 Fluke
No chance of more than 2 Fluke

60% chance of 1 Fluke
40% chance of 2 Fluke
No chance of more than 2 Fluke

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

NUMBER OF LEGALSIZE FISH YOU CAN
KEEP

CATCH

These fish are at least legal
minimum size. Some fish are
released if you catch more
than the daily bag limit.

40%

1
40%

60%

NUMBER OF OTHER
FISH YOU CATCH

60%

2 Black Sea Bass

1 Black Sea Bass

Small Private Boat
(No fish finder available)

Shore
Fishing

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP
Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TRIP MODE

TRIP DETAILS

TRIP LENGTH
Time spent fishing on this
trip.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

4 Hours

$200

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

$115

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

TRIP FEATURES
NUMBER OF FISH YOU
CATCH

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

4 Fluke

3 Fluke

70% chance of 1 Fluke
30% chance of 2 Fluke
No chance of more than 2 Fluke

50% chance of 0 Fluke
50% chance of 2 Fluke
No chance of more than 2 Fluke

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

NUMBER OF LEGALSIZE FISH YOU CAN
KEEP

These fish are at least legal
minimum size. Some fish are
released if you catch more
than the daily bag limit.

30%

CATCH

50%

70%

NUMBER OF OTHER
FISH YOU CATCH

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.
2 Black Sea Bass

2 Black Sea Bass

1 Black Sea Bass

Small Private Boat
(Fish finder available)

Shore
Fishing

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP
Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TRIP MODE

TRIP DETAILS

TRIP LENGTH
Time spent fishing on this
trip.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

4 Hours

3 Hours

$150

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

$115

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

TRIP FEATURES
NUMBER OF FISH YOU
CATCH

Option 1

Option 2

3 Fluke

33% chance of 0 Fluke
67% chance of 3 Fluke
No chance of more than 3 Fluke

50% chance of 1 Fluke
50% chance of 3 Fluke
No chance of more than 3 Fluke

Option 3

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

NUMBER OF LEGALSIZE FISH YOU CAN

CATCH

KEEP

These fish are at least legal
minimum size. Some fish are
released if you catch more
than the daily bag limit.

33%

50%

50%
67%

NUMBER OF OTHER
FISH YOU CATCH

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.
3 Black Sea Bass

3 Black Sea Bass

1 Black Sea Bass

0 Black Sea Bass

Private Boat
(Fish finder available)

Shore
Fishing

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP
Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TRIP MODE

TRIP DETAILS

TRIP LENGTH
Time spent fishing on this
trip.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

6 Hours

4.5 Hours

$300

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

$275

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

TRIP FEATURES
NUMBER OF FISH YOU
CATCH

Option 1

Option 2

3 Fluke

100% chance of 2 Fluke
No chance of more than 2 Fluke

50% chance of 1 Fluke
50% chance of 3 Fluke
No chance of more than 3 Fluke

Option 3

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

NUMBER OF LEGALSIZE FISH YOU CAN
KEEP

These fish are at least legal
minimum size. Some fish are
released if you catch more
than the daily bag limit.
50%

CATCH

50%
100%

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.

NUMBER OF OTHER
FISH YOU CATCH

2 Black Sea Bass

1 Black Sea Bass

Private Boat
(Fish finder available)

Private Boat
(No fish finder available)

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP
Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TRIP MODE

TRIP DETAILS

TRIP LENGTH
Time fishing on this
trip.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

6 Hours

$300

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

$275

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

TRIP FEATURES
NUMBER OF FISH YOU
CATCH

Option 1

Option 2

4 Fluke

3 Fluke

40% chance of 1 Fluke
60% chance of 2 or 3 Fluke
No chance of more than 3 Fluke

60% chance of 1 Fluke
40% chance of 2 Fluke
No chance of more than 2 Fluke

Option 3

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

NUMBER OF LEGALSIZE FISH YOU CAN
KEEP

CATCH

These fish are at least legal
minimum size. Some fish are
released if you catch more
than the daily bag limit.

40%

60%

NUMBER OF OTHER
FISH YOU CATCH

60%

2 Black Sea Bass

1 Black Sea Bass

Small Private Boat
(No fish finder available)

Shore
Fishing

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP
Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TRIP MODE

TRIP DETAILS

TRIP LENGTH
Time spent fishing on this
trip.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

4 Hours

3 Hours

$200

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

$115

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

TRIP FEATURES
NUMBER OF FISH YOU
CATCH

Option 1

Option 2

4 Fluke

3 Fluke

50% chance of 0 or 1 Fluke
50% chance of 2 or 3 Fluke
No chance of more than 3 Fluke

60% chance of 1 Fluke
40% chance of 2 Fluke
No chance of more than 2 Fluke

Option 3

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

NUMBER OF LEGALSIZE FISH YOU CAN
KEEP

CATCH

These fish are at least legal
minimum size. Some fish are
released if you catch more
than the daily bag limit.

NUMBER OF OTHER
FISH YOU CATCH

40%

50%

60%

2 Black Sea Bass

1 Black Sea Bass

Small Private Boat
(No fish finder available)

Shore
Fishing

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP
Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TRIP MODE

TRIP DETAILS

TRIP LENGTH
Time spent fishing on this
trip.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

4 Hours

$145

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

$115

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

SECTION C: ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD
The questions on this page are only to ensure that we have a representative sample of the angling
population and will not be used to identify any specific individuals. Your answers are completely confidential.
1

Are you male or female?

What is your year of birth?

What is the highest level of education you have completed? (Please mark only one category)

Male

Female

Less than 9th Grade

Bachelor’s Degree (ex: BA or BS)

9th to 12th Grade

Some graduate school

High school graduate or GED

Master’s Degree (ex: MA, MS, MEng, MEd, MSW, MBA)

Some college, no degree

Professional Degree (ex: MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)

Associate Degree (ex: AA or AS)

Doctorate Degree (ex: PhD, EdD)

Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish Origin
Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano
Yes, Puerto Rican
Yes, Cuban
Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish Origin: _________________________

What is your race? (Check all that apply)
White

Korean

Black, African Am., or Negro

Vietnamese

American Indian or Alaska Native

Native Hawaiian

Asian Indian

Guamanian or Chamorro

Chinese

Samoan

Filipino

Other Asian or Pacific Islander: _____________________

Japanese

Other: _____________________________

Which of the following categories best describes your household’s total annual income before taxes in
2018? (Please mark only one category)
Less than $20,000

$80,000-$99,999

$20,000-$39,999

$100,000-$149,999

$40,000-$59,999

$150,000-$199,999

$60,000-$79,999

$200,000 or more

Was this survey completed by the person to whom it was mailed?

Yes

Fish images courtesy of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information collection has a currently valid OMB Control
Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0648-0783. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey. Public reporting for this information collection is
estimated to be approximately 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and
reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection,
including suggestions for reducing this burden to Scott Steinback, NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543 or email [email protected].

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