Fishing Effort Survey At-a-Glance
NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program implements a national network of recreational fishing surveys. The Fishing Effort Survey uses the Weather and Outdoor Activity Survey to gather information about the number of trips anglers take to estimate recreational fishing effort.
How does NOAA Fisheries collect information about recreational fishing effort?
From Maine through Alabama and in Hawai‘i, we administer a monthly household mail survey called the Fishing Effort Survey. We use data from the FES to estimate the number of fishing trips anglers take from shore and private boats. The FES is part of the Weather and Outdoor Activity Survey, which also includes non-fishing questions.
We use a U.S. Postal Service list of residential addresses matched to the National Saltwater Angler Registry, which is a database of licensed anglers. This allows us to send more surveys to households that are more likely to report fishing, while still maximizing our chances of obtaining a representative cross-section of all households. We create a new address list of licensed and unlicensed households prior to each mailing cycle. Note: In Hawai’i, the survey is sent to a randomly selected subset of all residential addresses because the NSAR registrant size is too small in the state to effectively match against the list of residential addresses.
As part of our continuous improvement process and evaluation of our survey methods, we conducted a large-scale study of the FES in 2024 informed by results of previous pilot studies. The intent of the study was to understand the differences in angler recall and resulting effort estimates between the survey design and a revised design that changes the order of fishing activity questions and increases the survey distribution to monthly. Based on study results, an improved FES is being implemented starting in 2026.
Hundreds of thousands of households receive the Fishing Effort Survey each year, and are asked to provide information about their recreational saltwater fishing activity. Credit: Chesapeake Bay Program
How do we use the information?
We collect the number of days fished in state of residence from shore and private boats (including rentals) for specified time periods for each resident of a responding household. We use this data to estimate the number of fishing trips anglers take, or effort, from shore and private boats.
We use data from the For-Hire Telephone Survey conducted along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to estimate the number of fishing trips taken from for-hire vessels.
State partners collect catch information via interviews conducted at public access sites like docks and marinas.
Our combined catch and effort surveys inform estimates of total recreational catch for many species.
These estimates—alongside separate commercial, observer, and biological data such as age, growth, and reproduction rates—help inform stock assessments and fisheries management decisions that aim to achieve sustainable fisheries for future generations.
If I haven’t been surveyed, how do I know my trips count?
We design our surveys to draw reasonable conclusions about the full recreational fishing community through information provided from a representative portion of the community.
How does responding to the FES promote healthy fisheries?
Sustainable fishing is a shared responsibility. Anglers are our eyes and ears on the water, and the central source of the information we use to estimate recreational fishing activity.
Taking a few minutes to share complete information about your fishing trip is one of the most important contributions you can make for the successful protection and management of our marine fisheries resources.
Even if you didn’t fish, your response is just as valuable to our survey as a response from someone who took multiple fishing trips.
Learn how we estimate total recreational catch
How do we evaluate data quality?
We follow statistical survey best practices for quality assurance and control measures before we publish the estimates. We check for errors in data entry and investigate any unusual changes in catch and effort trends.
Representatives from NOAA Fisheries’ regional offices and science centers, as well as state partners who have local on-the-ground-knowledge of the fisheries, are involved in the estimate review process.
As part of our commitment to data quality and transparency, we publish a measure of precision alongside the catch and effort estimates. A variety of factors, like small survey sample size, can cause estimates to be imprecise. Stock assessors and fisheries managers consider this information in their decision making. We continue to evaluate and incorporate improvements to our estimation and estimate review processes.