Recreational Fishing Data Downloads

NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program works with state and regional partners to collect recreational fishing data. Our recreational fisheries statistics are accessible through the MRIP Query Tool. Public-use datasets and template programs to support the custom analysis of our data can be downloaded through the links on this page.

Data Additions and Updates

A complete timeline of additions and updates to our data products can be found on the Recreational Fishing Estimate Updates page. To be notified of these updates, subscribe to our email service.

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.

Data users are also encouraged to watch recordings of the 2021-2022 MRIP Data User Seminar Series. The two-part Custom Domain Analyses seminar provides examples (using SAS software) of how our template programs and general survey microdata may be used to produce custom estimates.

General Survey Microdata

General survey microdata, or the recreational fishing information gathered through the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey, Fishing Effort Survey, and For-Hire Survey, are available in SAS and CSV formats. Datasets are organized by year (YYYY) and two-month sampling period, or wave (W).

More information about each file type can be found in the MRIP Read Me. More information about variable formats and descriptions can be found in MRIP_Survey_Variables (.xls).

Catch-level Data

CATCH_YYYYW.sas7bdat includes catch-level data and variables required for estimation. Contains one record per species per angler trip interview (identified by the variable id_code). Each record contains catch totals by catch type in numbers, weight (kg), and length (mm).

Design variables include:

• Strat_id: Identifier for the design stratum.
• Psu_id: Identifier for the primary sampling unit (site-day).
• Id_code: Identifier for the angler trip.
• Wp_catch: Post-stratified sampling weight for use in weighted estimation.

Trip-level Data

TRIP_YYYYW.sas7bdat includes trip-level data and variables required for estimation. Contains one record per angler trip interview (identified by the variable id_code).

Design variables include:

• Strat_id: Identifier for the design stratum.
• Psu_id: Identifier for the primary sampling unit (site-day).
• Id_code: Identifier for the angler trip.
• Wp_int: Post-stratified sampling weight for use in weighted estimation.

Both the FES, which covers private/rental boat and shore fishing modes, and the FHS, which covers charter and headboat fishing modes, provide estimates for individual collapsed areas of fishing (area_x). For charter and headboat modes, it is possible to have an effort estimate for a given area (inland, ocean ≤ 3 miles, ocean > 3 miles) with no corresponding trip data from the APAIS. To account for these situations, charter and/or headboat records are included in the trip dataset. While there are no catch data associated with these records, their inclusion allows data users to calculate trip totals that match those reported by the MRIP Query Tool for charter and headboat effort. These records may be identified by:

• Month=99
• KOD=”xx”
• Last 4 characters of psu_id=“0000”
• Last 4 characters of strat_id=“99xx”
• Id_code=first 15 digits of appended (year||wave||sub_reg||st||fl_reg||mode_fx||month||kod||"0000"), with area_x appended

Fish-level Length and Weight Data

SIZE_YYYYW.sas7bdat includes fish-level length and weight data and variables required for estimation. Contains one record per fish caught and measured or weighed by the APAIS interviewer. Missing lengths and/or weights are imputed as needed for individual fish records. When lngth and wgt fields have imputed values, the corresponding lngth_imp and wgt_imp fields have values of 1.

Design variables include:

• Strat_id: Identifier for the design stratum.
• Psu_id: Identifier for the primary sampling unit (site-day).
• Id_code: Identifier for the angler trip.
• Wp_size: Post-stratified sampling weight for use in weighted estimation for the size dataset. Contains an additional adjustment for situations in which only a subset of landed fish have been measured for an angler trip.

Household-level FES Data

FES_HH_YYYYW includes household-level data collected from completed FES surveys. Contains one record for each household (identified by the variable HH_id). Each record includes the number of household residents, household demographic information, and the total number of shore and private boat fishing trips taken by household residents during the reference wave.

Design variables include:

• Stratum_ID: Identifier for the design stratum.
• HH_ID: Unique household identifier.
• Final_wt: Final survey weight used in weighted estimation.

Person-level FES Data

FES_PERSON_YYYYW includes person-level data collected from households that responded to the FES. Contains one record for each person (identified by the variable PERSON_id) residing in a responding household. Each record includes demographic information and the total number of shore and private boat fishing trips taken by the household resident during the reference wave.

Design variables include:

• Stratum_ID: Identifier for the design stratum.
• HH_ID: Unique household identifier.
• Person_ID: Person identifier unique within each household.
• Final_wt: Final survey weight used in weighted estimation.

General Survey Estimates

Calibrated recreational catch and effort estimates are available in SAS and CSV formats for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts beginning in 1981. More information about variable formats and descriptions can be found in MRIP_Estimate_Variables (.xls).

On April 19, 2023, we transitioned from producing estimates for catch and effort in two-month waves to producing cumulative estimates to meet our commitment to providing quality data in line with our survey and data standards. 

Catch and effort estimate datasets available now provide cumulative estimates. These datasets contain estimates at multiple levels of aggregation in order to increase ease of use. Catch and effort estimates are provided at the following levels in each of the available estimate datasets:

• Level 1: year, sub-region, state, mode of fishing, area of fishing, species (for catch estimates only)
• Level 2: year, sub-region, state, mode of fishing, species (for catch estimates only)
• Level 3: year, sub-region, state, species (for catch estimates only)
• Level 4: year, sub-region, species (for catch estimates only)

Large Pelagics Survey Microdata and Estimates

The recreational fishing data gathered through the Large Pelagics Survey (LPS), comprised of the Large Pelagics Intercept Survey (LPIS) and the Large Pelagics Telephone Survey (LPTS), and the catch and effort estimates produced from these microdata are available in SAS and CSV formats, including.  The shift to cumulative estimates for our Large Pelagics Survey is on hold while research continues to inform the transition to an improved, certified survey design. LPS will continue to produce catch and effort estimates in one-month increments in the interim.

• CATCH_YYYYMM: Catch-level intercept data. Each record contains catch totals in numbers by species from each intercepted trip for the different types of catch dispositions (e.g., kept, released alive, or discarded dead).
• MAIN_YYYYMM: Boat-level data. Contains one record per intercepted respondent interviewed through the intercept survey.
• SIZE_YYYYMM: Fish-level length data. Contains one record per fish measured by samplers through the intercept survey.
• LPTS_YYYYMMM: Private mode effort data collected through the LPTS. Each trip by sampled vessels is profiled, containing record lines that match the corresponding number of trips a sampled vessel takes during a sampling period. A sampled vessel with no trips has one record line. 
• All_ESTS_YYYY: Catch and effort estimates by month, mode (private boats and for-hire vessels), area, and species.

Each zip file (labeled either LPS_YYYY_sas.zip or LPS_YYYY_csv.zip) from 2002-2010 contains annual LPIS and LPTS datasets, which include separate annual catch, main, and size files; an annual LPTS file; and an annual file for all catch and effort estimates (labeled all_ests_YYYY). Each zip file from 2011 to present contains monthly (June-October) LPIS and LPTS datasets, which include monthly LPIS files of catch, main, and size data; a monthly LPTS file; and a single annual file of all catch and effort estimates.

More information about variable formats and descriptions can be found in the LPIS_Survey_Variables (.xls), LPTS_Survey_Variables (.xls), and LPS_Estimates_Variables (.xls) guides located within the LPS Data Downloads folder.

Template Programs

Four template programs are currently available to support custom domain analyses of catch, effort, and length data. The SAS programs use the SAS surveymeans procedure. The R programs use the R survey package. Both sets of programs provide domain analysis, including point and precision estimates.

Note: These template programs are meant to be used with public-use datasets from 2004 and beyond. These programs are not meant to be used with LPS data.

More information about each program template and the datasets required to run them can be found in the MRIP Read Me. Detailed guidance for performing custom domain analyses can be found in Section 5 of the MRIP Data User Handbook. To download the template programs below, right-click the filename and select “Save link as….”

Catch Totals

Catch Estimation for Custom Domains is a template program that estimates catch totals using MRIP public-use datasets. It is meant to define custom domains with the information in the TRIP_YYYYW dataset. Catch is estimated within these domains by merging trip information with the CATCH_YYYYW dataset.

• Catch Estimation Template Program (SAS)
• Catch Estimation Template Program (R)

Directed Angler Trips

Directed Angler Trips (Effort) for Custom Domains is a template program that estimates directed trips using MRIP public-use datasets. It is meant to define custom domains with the information in the TRIP_YYYYW dataset and to estimate total angler trips within these domains. Catch information can be used to define domains by merging the CATCH_YYYYW datasets onto the TRIP_YYYYW datasets.

• Direct Angler Trip Estimation Template Program (SAS)
• Direct Angler Trip Estimation Template Program (R)

Length Frequencies

Length Frequencies for Single Species within Custom Domains is a template program that estimates length frequencies using MRIP public-use datasets. It is meant to calculate length frequencies (in numbers of fish and as proportions) with the information in the SIZE_YYYYW datasets. Custom estimation domains can be defined by merging the TRIP_YYYYW datasets onto the SIZE_YYYYW datasets.

• Length Frequencies Template Program (SAS)
• Length Frequencies Template Program (R)

Shore and Private Boat Effort Estimation

FES Estimation for Custom Domains (SAS) is a template program that estimates shore and private boat effort distributions for custom domains across angler demographic characteristics.  Estimates are derived directly from the FES_PERSON_YYYYW datasets.

More Information

• An Introduction to MRIP Data
• MRIP Query Tool
• MRIP Data User Handbook