Gulf of Mexico Charter Fishing Survey

OMB Control No. 0648-0052. Expiration Date: 12/31/2014.

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Gulf of Mexico
Charter Fishing Survey

What Do You Think?

Questions?

Dr. David Carter at david.w.carter@noaa.gov or (305) 361-4467

Sponsored by
NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service)
and
The Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission

Version 1

Section A: Your Saltwater Fishing Experiences and Activities
This survey is confidential!

A1 How many years have you been saltwater fishing?

years

A2 Do you, or does anyone in your household, own a motorized boat that is ever
used for saltwater recreational fishing?

 Yes

 No

A3 a) Do you have a current saltwater fishing license?

 Yes

 No

b) If Yes, from which State(s)? (check all that apply)

 Louisiana

 Alabama

 Other U.S. State

 Mississippi

 Florida

 Other ____________

A4 Are you familiar with the saltwater fishing regulations in the State waters
where you have a saltwater fishing license or where you fish most often?

 Yes

 No

A5 Are you familiar with the saltwater fishing regulations in Federal waters in
the Gulf of Mexico?

 Yes
2

 No

A6 Please fill in the table below with the number of fishing trips you took in the
last 12 months for each type of trip. (blanks will be counted as zero)
Type of fishing trip

# of fishing trips

Saltwater charter (passengers pay as a group for entire boat)
Saltwater head boat / party boat (pay on a per person basis)
Saltwater with a privately owned boat or rental boat
Saltwater from the shore or a pier
Freshwater (all types)

A7 How many saltwater fishing trips do you plan to take in the Gulf of Mexico in the
next 12 months? (blanks will be counted as zero)
Charter Trips

Other Trips

A8 What is your primary source of weather information when planning saltwater
fishing trips?

 Newspaper  FM/AM radio

 Other website

 TV

 Other ________________



NOAA radio or website

 I do not check the weather before fishing trips
A9 What is your primary source for fishing reports when planning saltwater
fishing trips?

 Newspaper

 FM/AM radio 

 Magazine

 TV

Internet

 Other ______________________

 I do not check fishing reports before fishing trips

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3

A10 Below are a few things related to planning a saltwater charter fishing trip.
Please indicate the extent you agree or disagree with each statement.
Strongly
Agree

Agree

Feel
Neutral

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

I only charter boats that someone
has recommended to me
I use the phone book to shop for
charter trips
I use the internet to shop for
charter trips
Charter fees posted on the
internet are negotiable
I go to the dock to shop for
charter trips
I sometimes charter boats within
50 miles of my house

A11 Below are a few reasons why you might take a saltwater charter fishing trip.
Please indicate the extent you agree or disagree with each statement.
“A reason I take saltwater
charter fishing trips is to …”
…fish a specific destination / season
…learn fishing techniques and spots
… catch a trophy fish
…catch a lot of fish
…keep a lot of fish (for food)
…have more space than on my boat
…avoid the hassle of using my boat
…entertain clients / conduct business
…commemorate a special event
…compete in tournaments

4

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Feel
Neutral

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

Section B: Your Most Recent Saltwater Charter Fishing Trip
Please answer the questions below regarding your most
recent saltwater charter fishing trip.

B1 What city did the charter trip depart from? ______________ , _____________
(city)

(state/country)

B2 Was this saltwater charter fishing trip part of a longer trip

 Yes

in which you spent at least one night away from your
permanent residence?

B3 What was the month and year of the trip?

,
(month)

 No

201
(year)

B4 How long was the charter fishing trip?

 ½ Day

 ¾ Day

 Full Day

 Overnight

 Other ___________

B5 a) What was the total number of passengers on
this trip (including yourself; excluding crew)?

passengers

b) Who were the other passengers (check all that apply)?

 Family

 Colleagues

 Not applicable

 Friends

 Other fishing party

 Other ____________

(I was alone)

B6 Please describe your charter fishing trip by checking all of the boxes that apply.
Event

Boat

Amenities

Crew

 None
 Special occasion
 Business related
 Tournament

 Don’t know
 Outboard engine
 Flybridge
 >45 feet

 Cabin
 Air conditioning
 Head/lavatory
 Fighting chair

 Captain
 Mate
 Second
Mate

5

B7 What was the primary area/waters fished?

 Inshore

 State offshore

 Federal offshore

 Don’t know

B8 What was the primary method of fishing? (Please check only one)

 Trolling

 Casting

 Drift fishing

 Bottom fishing

 Fly fishing

 Don’t know

 Other
______________

B9 a) Were you planning to target a specific type of fish when the trip was booked?

 Yes

 No

 Don’t know

b) If Yes, which type of fish were you planning to target?

________________________ (please write one type of fish)

B10 a) Were you targeting a specific type of fish while you were fishing?

 Yes

 No

b) If Yes, who determined the target?

 Don’t know
 Passengers  Captain  Both

B11 Please check the boxes for the types of fish targeted, caught, and/or kept.
Type of Fish

Targeted

Dolphin fish
Red snapper
Other snappers
Gag or black grouper
Other groupers
Mackerel
Tuna
Sailfish / swordfish / billfish
Drum / flounder / inshore species
Any other type of fish

 I don’t know or don’t remember
6

Caught

Kept

 Yes

 No

 Don’t know

b) Did anyone purchase a fish mount?

 Yes

 No

 Don’t know

c) Did regulations force the discard of fish?

 Yes

 No

 Don’t know

B12 a) Did the crew or captain keep any fish?

d) If Yes, why did you discard (check all that apply)?

 Undersize

 Out of season

 Over bag limit

 Restricted species

 Other reason
________

B13 a) How much was the charter fee? $ __ , __ __ __ . 0 0



Don’t know

$ __ , __ __ __ . 0 0



Don’t know

b) How much was the tip?

c) What share of the fee did you pay for?

 Whole fare  Portion  Nothing

B14 What was the primary reason for hiring this particular boat? (check one)

 Previous experience

 Size of boat

 Hotel setup

 Price

 Availability (logistics)

 No reason / walk-on

 Recommendation/
Captain reputation

 Don’t know

B15 What activity would you have engaged in if your charter trip had been canceled
the week before due to engine troubles and there was no other charter available?

 Non-charter fishing trip  Outdoor recreational activity:
 Work
 Indoor recreational activity:
 Don’t know
 Something else:

_______________
_______________
_______________

B16 How would you rate your trip?
Very
satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral /
Don’t know

Dissatisfied

Very
dissatisfied

7

Section C: Your Preferences for Gulf of Mexico
Charter Fishing Trips
We want to know what you think about different types of saltwater charter fishing
trips. Please read these instructions carefully before going to the next page.

On each of the following 6 pages you are asked to compare the features of two
hypothetical offshore Gulf of Mexico charter fishing trips. You can take up to 6
passengers on these trips and you might catch dolphin fish, mackerel,
snapper, grouper, sailfish, billfish, shark or many other types of fish. However,
catch is never guaranteed on any charter trip.
The two offshore Gulf of Mexico charter trips presented on each page differ
only in length of trip, vessel size, captain’s reputation, charter fee
(excluding tip), and the fishing regulations in effect at the place and time of
trip. The two trips are otherwise identical.
Two forms of fishing regulations are presented for five types of fish that might
be caught on each of the charter trips shown:


“Bag”



“Closed” – There is a closed season in effect for the given type of fish and
no one is legally allowed to keep any of this type of fish

– The bag limit or the number of the given type of fish that each
person is legally allowed to keep on a trip

Regulations for other species are as in effect in the Gulf of Mexico in 2013 and
are the same for each trip. Please note that the regulations presented in the
following pages are hypothetical and are unrelated to current fishery
management decisions.
Remember that you can contact Dr. David Carter at david.w.carter@noaa.gov
or (305) 361-4461 if you have any questions on this survey.

______________________________________________

8

C1 Please compare the features of Gulf of Mexico offshore charter fishing trips A and
B and answer the questions below. Please keep in mind that:
 You can take up to 6 passengers
 You might catch various types of fish, but catch is not guaranteed
 Trips A and B are exactly the same except for differences shown

Trip Features

Trip A

Trip B

Length of trip

Full-day

Full-day

50 ft

40 ft

Unknown

Known

$1,000

$1,200

Dolphin fish

10 bag

5 bag

All snappers /
Red snapper

10 bag /
2 bag

5 bag /
1 bag

All groupers

6 bag

closed

King mackerel

closed

3 bag

As in 2013

As in 2013

Vessel size
Captain's reputation

effect at the place
and time of trip

Regulations in

Charter fee (excluding tip)

Other regulations

C1 a) Which of these two trips do you prefer?

 Trip A

 Trip B
 I don’t know

C1 b) Please circle one trip feature in the table above which
most influenced your preference of one trip over the other.

C1 c) If your preferred trip was the only option available for your next saltwater
charter fishing trip, then what would you choose to do?
 Take my preferred trip
 Do something else, but not take a saltwater charter fishing trip
 I don't know

______________________________________________

9

C2 Please compare the features of Gulf of Mexico offshore charter fishing trips A and B
and answer the questions below. Please keep in mind that:
 You can take up to 6 passengers
 You might catch various types of fish, but catch is not guaranteed
 Trips A and B are exactly the same except for differences shown

Trip Features

Trip A

Trip B

Length of trip

Full-day

Half-day

50 ft

40 ft

Captain's reputation

Known

Unknown

Charter fee (excluding tip)

$1,200

$400

Dolphin fish

10 bag

5 bag

All snappers /
Red snapper

5 bag /
closed

10 bag /
1 bag

All groupers

2 bag

closed

King mackerel

closed

1 bag

As in 2013

As in 2013

effect at the place
and time of trip

Regulations in

Vessel size

Other regulations

C2 a) Which of these two trips do you prefer?

 Trip A

 Trip B
 I don’t know

C2 b) Please circle one trip feature in the table above which
most influenced your preference of one trip over the other.

C2 c) If your preferred trip was the only option available for your next saltwater
charter fishing trip, then what would you choose to do?
 Take my preferred trip
 Do something else, but not take a saltwater charter fishing trip
 I don't know

10

C3 Please compare the features of Gulf of Mexico offshore charter fishing trips A and
B and answer the questions below. Please keep in mind that:
 You can take up to 6 passengers
 You might catch various types of fish, but catch is not guaranteed
 Trips A and B are exactly the same except for differences shown

Trip Features

Trip A

Trip B

Length of trip

Full-day

Full-day

50 ft

40 ft

Captain's reputation

Known

Unknown

Charter fee (excluding tip)

$1,400

$1,000

5 bag

10 bag

10 bag /
2 bag

5 bag /
closed

All groupers

closed

6 bag

King mackerel

closed

2 bag

As in 2013

As in 2013

effect at the place
and time of trip

Regulations in

Vessel size

Dolphin fish
All snappers /
Red snapper

Other regulations

C3 a) Which of these two trips do you prefer?

 Trip A

 Trip B
 I don’t know

C3 b) Please circle one trip feature in the table above which
most influenced your preference of one trip over the other.

C3 c) If your preferred trip was the only option available for your next saltwater
charter fishing trip, then what would you choose to do?
 Take my preferred trip
 Do something else, but not take a saltwater charter fishing trip
 I don't know

______________________________________________

11

C4 Please compare the features of Gulf of Mexico offshore charter fishing trips A and
B and answer the questions below. Please keep in mind that:
 You can take up to 6 passengers
 You might catch various types of fish, but catch is not guaranteed
 Trips A and B are exactly the same except for differences shown

Trip Features

Trip A

Trip B

Length of trip

Full-day

Full-day

40 ft

50 ft

Unknown

Known

$1,000

$1,400

Dolphin fish

5 bag

10 bag

All snappers /
Red snapper

5 bag /
1 bag

10 bag /
3 bag

All groupers

6 bag

closed

King mackerel

1 bag

2 bag

As in 2013

As in 2013

Vessel size
Captain's reputation

effect at the place
and time of trip

Regulations in

Charter fee (excluding tip)

Other regulations

C4 a) Which of these two trips do you prefer?

 Trip A

 Trip B
 I don’t know

C4 b) Please circle one trip feature in the table above which
most influenced your preference of one trip over the other.

C4 c) If your preferred trip was the only option available for your next saltwater
charter fishing trip, then what would you choose to do?
 Take my preferred trip
 Do something else, but not take a saltwater charter fishing trip
 I don't know

12

C5 Please compare the features of Gulf of Mexico offshore charter fishing trips A and
B and answer the questions below. Please keep in mind that:
 You can take up to 6 passengers
 You might catch various types of fish, but catch is not guaranteed
 Trips A and B are exactly the same except for differences shown

Trip Features

Trip A

Trip B

Length of trip

Half-day

Half-day

40 ft

50 ft

Known

Unknown

$800

$800

Dolphin fish

10 bag

5 bag

All snappers /
Red snapper

5 bag /
3 bag

10 bag /
closed

All groupers

closed

4 bag

King mackerel

3 bag

closed

As in 2013

As in 2013

Vessel size
Captain's reputation

effect at the place
and time of trip

Regulations in

Charter fee (excluding tip)

Other regulations

C5 a) Which of these two trips do you prefer?

 Trip A

 Trip B
 I don’t know

C5 b) Please circle one trip feature in the table above which
most influenced your preference of one trip over the other.

C5 c) If your preferred trip was the only option available for your next saltwater
charter fishing trip, then what would you choose to do?
 Take my preferred trip
 Do something else, but not take a saltwater charter fishing trip
 I don't know

______________________________________________

13

C6 Please compare the features of Gulf of Mexico offshore charter fishing trips A and
B and answer the questions below. Please keep in mind that:
 You can take up to 6 passengers
 You might catch various types of fish, but catch is not guaranteed
 Trips A and B are exactly the same except for differences shown

Trip Features

Trip A

Trip B

Length of trip

Half-day

Half-day

50 ft

40 ft

Unknown

Known

$400

$600

5 bag

10 bag

10 bag /
closed

5 bag /
2 bag

All groupers

2 bag

4 bag

King mackerel

2 bag

closed

As in 2013

As in 2013

Vessel size
Captain's reputation

effect at the place
and time of trip

Regulations in

Charter fee (excluding tip)
Dolphin fish
All snappers /
Red snapper

Other regulations

C6 a) Which of these two trips do you prefer?

 Trip A

 Trip B
 I don’t know

C6 b) Please circle one trip feature in the table above which
most influenced your preference of one trip over the other.

C6 c) If your preferred trip was the only option available for your next saltwater
charter fishing trip, then what would you choose to do?
 Take my preferred trip
 Do something else, but not take a saltwater charter fishing trip
 I don't know

14

Section D: About You and Your Household

D1 What is the Zip Code of your current home residence?

D2 What is your gender?

 Male

 Female

19

D3 What year were you born?

D4 Which of the following categories best describes your household’s total annual
income before taxes in 2012?

 Less than $24,999

 $100,000 - $124,999  $200,000 - $224,999

 $25,000 - $49,999

 $125,000 - $149,999  $225,000 - $249,999

 $50,000 - $74,999

 $150,000 - $174,999  Greater than $250,000

 $75,000 - $99,999

 $175,000 - $199,999

D5 Was this survey completed by the person to whom it was mailed?

 Yes

 No

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15

Thank You for Participating!
Your contribution to this study is greatly appreciated. We welcome any
additional comments you would like to share with us. Please use the space
provided below. Please return the completed questionnaire in the attached
postage paid envelope as soon as possible.

Questions?

Dr. David Carter at david.w.carter@noaa.gov or (305) 361-4467

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law; no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Public reporting burden for this survey is estimated to average 15
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the
data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Robert Walker, NMFS SSRG, 75 Virginia
Beach Dr, Miami, FL 33149. Information submitted will be treated as confidential in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order
216-100. NMFS collects this information for the conservation and management of marine fishery resources. These data will be used to
evaluate the economic effects of proposed regulations in the fishery.

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