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Recreationals Catch and Release More Fish
Information provided by NOAA

Marine recreational anglers have been catching more fish in recent years, but they are also releasing their catch more often, according to new data included in a report by NOAA Fisheries. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Marine recreational fishing supported nearly 350,000 jobs and generated $30.5 billion in economic impact to the nation according to a 2004 NOAA Fisheries report, “The Economic Importance of Marine Angler Expenditures in the United States.”

Another 2004 report, “Fisheries of the United States,” showed that the 10-year trend for fish caught recreationally is up by 11 percent since 1994. However, the number of fish the anglers actually keep has remained flat, showing no significant growth over the past decade.

“I’m encouraged by these recreational fishing trends,” Hogarth said. “The healthier and more abundant we can make the fish populations, the better the fishing experience for the American public. This translates into more jobs and money going into coastal communities.”

Of the 10 most popular recreational species, the majority of fish (60 percent on average) are released alive. The report identified anglers’ top catches as spotted sea trout, Atlantic croaker, summer flounder and striped bass.

Recreational fishing continues to be one of the most popular outdoor sports. Anglers took nearly 82 million saltwater trips in 2003. While participation in marine recreational fishing fell eight percent from the previous year, the 10-year trend is still positive with the number of anglers up seven percent and the number of trips up nine percent. The statistics are based on survey data collected in the Northeast in 1998, Southeast in 1999, and on the Pacific Coast in 2000.

Both of these reports are available on the NOAA Fisheries Statistics Web site: www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/index.html or by contacting the Recreational Fisheries Services Branch in the Office of Constituent Services at forbes.darby@noaa.gov
or (301) 713-2379 extension 127.