Recreational Fisheries Statistics Queries

NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program maintains a searchable database of its recreational fisheries statistics. Known as the MRIP Query Tool, this database allows users to filter recreational fishing data by time series, geographic area, species, mode, and other characteristics.

Public-use datasets and statistical analysis programs are available on our Recreational Fishing Data Downloads page. If the information you need is not available through the MRIP Query Tool or these public-use datasets, you may submit a custom data request. Requests are handled in order of receipt, and may take up to six weeks to fulfill.

To cite data retrieved from our website, please use "Personal communication from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division. [Include date of query.]" Questions for the Fisheries Statistics Division may be submitted using this form.

Data Additions and Updates

A complete list of updates to MRIP data, estimates, and queries can be found on our Recreational Fishing Estimate Updates page. To be notified of these updates, subscribe to our email service.

On June 21, 2022, a new effort query ("FES Distributions") was added to the MRIP Query Tool. This query includes three new queries of Fishing Effort Survey estimates:

• Estimated distributions of shore and private boat fishing trips by age
• Estimated distributions of shore and private boat fishing trips by gender
• Estimated prevalence of shore and private boat fishing among residents of coastal states

To access the new query, select “FES Distributions” from the Effort Data drop-down menu.

In addition, the following data products have been posted to the Recreational Fishing Data Downloads page.

• Public-use household-level data collected from completed FES surveys
• Public-use person-level data collected from households that responded to the FES
• A template program (SAS) that estimates shore and private boat effort distributions for custom domains across angler demographic characteristics

As of the most recent updates:

• Preliminary estimates are available through wave 4, 2022 for the Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, and Hawaii.
• Final estimates are available through 2021 for the Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, and Hawaii. Final estimates for Puerto Rico are available through wave 4, 2017.
• Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Catch Card data is available through 2020.

Data Use Considerations

To interpret recreational fisheries statistics, data users must consider their precision, comparability across time, and the availability of weight measurements. Data users should also be aware of the potential for revisions to estimates that have already been published. More information about data use considerations can be found on our Introduction to MRIP Data page.

Guidance for Data Users

Fisheries analysts and stock assessors are encouraged to download the MRIP Data User Handbook for detailed information about downloading, exporting, querying, and performing custom analyses of our recreational fishing data.

• Section 4.2 contains a list of the queries we offer and the functions performed by each one.
• Section 4.3 includes step-by-step instructions for running common queries.
• Section 2.4 defines common MRIP Query Tool terms. These definitions can also be found in our online Recreational Fishing Data Glossary.

Data users are also encouraged to watch recordings of the 2021-2022 MRIP Data User Seminar Series. The MRIP Query Tool Seminar provides an overview of how the MRIP Query Tool can be used and how it will change following the full implementation of the agency’s Recreational Fishing Survey and Data Standards.

More Information

• An Introduction to MRIP Data
• Recreational Fishing Data Downloads
• Timeline of Recreational Fishing Data Updates