The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission considers it essential to gather scientific information concerning the behaviors, attitudes, and preferences of licensed saltwater anglers in Florida. The Florida Saltwater Fishing Panel (FSFP) is a new approach being used by the Commission to gather social science information from and about anglers on a continuing basis. This information, along with the results of biological research, will provide important insight into fisheries management and policy decisions.

FSFP members are surveyed once a month concerning the number of days they went saltwater fishing, hours of fishing, catch rates, the origins and destinations of their latest fishing trips, and the money spent on those trips. Each month members of the panel will also be asked for their opinions about current and emerging fisheries management and policy-related issues.

These data will be used to estimate effort and catch rates, develop models for the economic impacts and value of saltwater fishing, and better understand anglers’ attitudes on a range of subjects, including proposed regulations and policies.

Two methods will be used to recruit licensed saltwater anglers to register for the FSFP: 1) Emails will be sent to a stratified, proportional (e.g., by location of residences, by types of licenses) sample of license holders and 2) recruitment through sport fishing organizations and media, charter boat captains, and word-of-mouth promotion.

The data from the FSFP surveys will be weighted to be representative of the distribution of licensed Florida saltwater anglers.

If you have any questions or technical issues, please contact us at fishing@msu.edu.