Access Point Angler Intercept Survey At-a-Glance Fact Sheet

From Maine to Mississippi, anglers often wonder why we’re asking for information about their fishing trip and how we’ll use the data we collect. Finding a field interviewer at your local marina, boat ramp, or beach is one way to get answers to your questions about recreational fishing data collection. But you don’t have to wait until you’re at the dock to learn why your catch counts.

This fact sheet from the Marine Recreational Information Program answers anglers' most common questions about the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey, including:

• How does NOAA Fisheries collect information about recreational catch?
• How many trips are intercepted each year, and what happens to the information anglers share?
• How does this survey benefit me?
• How are field interviewers assigned to sites?
• What is an interviewer's daily assignment like?
• Why do interviewers work at sites where fishing activity is low?
• Why do interviewers survey anglers who didn't catch any fish?
• Why do interviewers survey anglers who are visiting from out of town?
• Why does it matter what one angler reports?
• Why should I participate more than once?
• Why haven't I been interviewed?
• What can I do to help?

This in-person survey of shore, private boat, and for-hire anglers collects data from tens of thousands of angler trips each year. Anglers are our primary source of recreational fishing data. Their understanding and support of these surveys is vital to the assessment and management of sustainable fish stocks.

Have a question to add? Email the Marine Recreational Information Program.