North Atlantic Recreational Fishing Survey 2025

North Atlantic
Recreational Fishing
Survey 2025

Improve your fishing experiences!

Sponsored by NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service), Northeast Fisheries Science Center
This survey is voluntary and all responses are confidential.
Questions? Email Scott Steinback at Scott.Steinback@noaa.gov
OMB Control Number 0648-0783 expires ?

SECTION A: YOUR RECREATIONAL SALTWATER FISHING EXPERIENCES
These questions are about you and your recreational saltwater fishing experiences.
Please do not include any information about other people you go fishing with.

1. Within the last five years, which of the following species have you gone fishing for, even if you
didn’t catch or keep any? Please select all that apply.

Black Sea Bass
Bass

Summer Flounder
None of these species

Scup

Go to Section D on Page 11

2. During 2024, which of the following species did you go fishing for, even if you didn’t catch or
keep any? Please select all that apply.

Summer Flounder

Black Sea Bass

Scup

3. During 2024, on how many trips did you go fishing for summer flounder, black sea bass, or
scup, even if you didn’t catch or keep any? Please fill in the number of trips by fishing mode.
Party or head boat (usually 25 or more anglers per boat)……………

#

2024 trips

Charter or guide boat (usually 1-6 anglers per boat)……………………

#

2024 trips

From shore……………

#

2024 trips

Private boat (owned or rented by you, a friend, or a relative)……..

#

2024 trips

4. Do you own, or have regular access to a boat used for recreational fishing?
Yes

No

5. How likely or unlikely are you to go recreational fishing for summer flounder, black sea bass,
or scup in the next twelve months?
Very Likely

Somewhat likely

Somewhat unlikely

2

Very unlikely

SECTION B: YOUR SALTWATER FISHING TRIP PREFERENCES
Your answers to the next six questions are extremely important to the success of the survey because they will be directly
incorporated into the policy making process. Please make your voice heard by answering each of these questions.
Each question will present you with three alternative trips like in the example below. Trips A and B are hypothetical
fishing trips with different catch levels and trip costs. Trip C is doing something other than saltwater fishing.
After comparing the three TRIPS, indicate which one would be your first choice.
Please do the following things to make sure we represent your thinking accurately.
1. Answer each question as if you were presented with the three options in the real world.
2. If you would not pay the amount listed for either fishing trip option, choose Trip C.
3. There are no right or wrong answers, we simply want to understand the tradeoffs that anglers like you are willing
to make.

Regulations

EXAMPLE

You are legally allowed to keep:
3 Fluke, 18'' or longer
15 Black sea bass, 13'' or longer
50 Scup, 9'' or longer

Trip Features

Trip A

Trip B

5 Fluke

2 Fluke

2 Fluke

0 Fluke

Other fish you catch.

6 Black sea bass
4 Scup

3 Black sea bass
1 Scup

NUMBER OF OTHER LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU CAN
KEEP

5 Black sea bass
4 Scup

1 Black sea bass
1 Scup

$200

$75

Trip A

Trip B

TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH YOU CATCH
This number includes both undersized and legal size fish.

NUMBER OF LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU CAN KEEP
These fish are at least legal minimum size fish.

TOTAL NUMBER OF OTHER FISH YOU CATCH

Other fish you catch on this trip that can be legally kept.

TOTAL TRIP COST

Trip C

Do something other
than saltwater fishing

Your share of the fishing-related, transportation, and other expenses. This
cost would not cover anyone else on the trip

If you were presented with these three options, which one would you
choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

3

Trip C

SECTION B: SALTWATER FISHING TRIPS
Suppose that you have the choice between two recreational saltwater fishing trips (Trip A or Trip B) and not going
recreational saltwater fishing (Trip C). Below the table, indicate which of these three options would be your first choice.
REGULATIONS
You are legally allowed to keep:
6 Fluke, 18'' or longer
5 Black Sea Bass, 12.5'' or longer
15 scup, 9'' or longer

TRIP FEATURES
TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH
YOU CATCH

Trip A

Trip B

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

6 Fluke

8 Fluke

6 Fluke

3 Fluke

CATCH

NUMBER OF LEGAL-SIZE
FISH YOU CAN KEEP

These fish are at least legal
minimum size.

TOTAL NUMBER OF OTHER
FISH YOU CATCH
Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP

TRIP DETAILS

Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

5 Black Sea Bass
10 scup

3 Black Sea Bass
5 scup

5 Black Sea Bass
5 scup

3 Black Sea Bass
0 scup

$160

$75

Trip C

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 

Trip A

(Choose only one option.)

4

Trip B

Trip C

SECTION B: SALTWATER FISHING TRIPS
Suppose that you have the choice between two recreational saltwater fishing trips (Trip A or Trip B) and not going
recreational saltwater fishing (Trip C). Below the table, indicate which of these three options would be your first choice.
REGULATIONS
You are legally allowed to keep:
2 Fluke, 18'' or longer
20 Black Sea Bass, 12.5'' or longer
60 scup, 9'' or longer

TRIP FEATURES
TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH
YOU CATCH

Trip A

Trip B

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

15 Fluke

10 Fluke

2 Fluke

0 Fluke

CATCH

NUMBER OF LEGAL-SIZE
FISH YOU CAN KEEP

These fish are at least legal
minimum size.

TOTAL NUMBER OF
OTHER FISH YOU
CATCH

30 Black Sea Bass
60 scup

5 Black Sea Bass
20 scup

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP

TRIP DETAILS

Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

1 Black Sea Bass
60 scup

0 Black Sea Bass
5 scup

$160

$45

Trip C

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 

Trip A

(Choose only one option.)

5

Trip B

Trip C

SECTION B: SALTWATER FISHING TRIPS
Suppose that you have the choice between two recreational saltwater fishing trips (Trip A or Trip B) and not going
recreational saltwater fishing (Trip C). Below the table, indicate which of these three options would be your first choice.
REGULATIONS
You are legally allowed to keep:
2 Fluke, 18'' or longer
20 Black Sea Bass, 12.5'' or longer
40 scup, 9'' or longer

TRIP FEATURES
TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH
YOU CATCH
This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

Trip A

Trip B

6 Fluke

1 Fluke

Trip C

50% chance of 0 Fluke
50% chance of 1 Fluke
No chance of more than 1 Fluke

CATCH

NUMBER OF LEGAL-SIZE
FISH YOU CAN KEEP

These fish are at least legal
minimum size.

TOTAL NUMBER OF
OTHER FISH YOU
CATCH

2 Fluke

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.
20 Black Sea Bass
30 scup

15 Black Sea Bass
5 scup

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP

15 Black Sea Bass
25 scup

10 Black Sea Bass
5 scup

$340

$160

TRIP DETAILS

Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

Trip A

6

Trip B

Trip C

SECTION B: SALTWATER FISHING TRIPS
Suppose that you have the choice between two recreational saltwater fishing trips (Trip A or Trip B) and not going
recreational saltwater fishing (Trip C). Below the table, indicate which of these three options would be your first choice.
REGULATIONS
You are legally allowed to keep:
6 Fluke, 18'' or longer
3 Black Sea Bass, 12.5'' or longer
15 scup, 9'' or longer

TRIP FEATURES
TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH
YOU CATCH
This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

Trip A

Trip B

1 Fluke

8 Fluke

Trip C

20% chance of 1 Fluke
80% chance of 6 Fluke
No chance of more than 6 Fluke

CATCH

NUMBER OF LEGAL-SIZE
FISH YOU CAN KEEP

1 Fluke

These fish are at least legal
minimum size.

TOTAL NUMBER OF
OTHER FISH YOU
CATCH

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.
10 Black Sea Bass
30 scup

0 Black Sea Bass
20 scup

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP

TRIP DETAILS

Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

3 Black Sea Bass
3 scup

0 Black Sea Bass
15 scup

$30

$420

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

Trip A

7

Trip B

Trip C

SECTION B: SALTWATER FISHING TRIPS
Suppose that you have the choice between two recreational saltwater fishing trips (Trip A or Trip B) and not going
recreational saltwater fishing (Trip C). Below the table, indicate which of these three options would be your first choice.
REGULATIONS
You are legally allowed to keep:
3 Fluke, 18'' or longer
22 Black Sea Bass, 12.5'' or longer
40 scup, 9'' or longer

TRIP FEATURES
TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH
YOU CATCH
This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

Trip A

Trip B

3 Fluke

4 Fluke

Trip C

34% chance of 1 Fluke
33% chance of 2 Fluke
33% chance of 3 Fluke
No chance of more than 3 Fluke
NUMBER OF LEGAL-SIZE
FISH YOU CAN KEEP

0 to 3 Fluke

CATCH

These fish are at least legal
minimum size.

TOTAL NUMBER OF
OTHER FISH YOU
CATCH

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.
25 Black Sea Bass
3 scup

10 Black Sea Bass
10 scup

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP

TRIP DETAILS

Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

0 Black Sea Bass
0 scup

1 Black Sea Bass
5 scup

$160

$340

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

Trip A

8

Trip B

Trip C

SECTION B: SALTWATER FISHING TRIPS
Suppose that you have the choice between two recreational saltwater fishing trips (Trip A or Trip B) and not going
recreational saltwater fishing (Trip C). Below the table, indicate which of these three options would be your first choice.
REGULATIONS
You are legally allowed to keep:
4 Fluke, 18'' or longer
5 Black Sea Bass, 12.5'' or longer
40 scup, 9'' or longer

TRIP FEATURES
TOTAL NUMBER OF FISH
YOU CATCH

Trip A

Trip B

This number includes both
undersized and legal size fish.

0 to 9 Fluke

3 Fluke

CATCH

NUMBER OF LEGAL-SIZE
FISH YOU CAN KEEP

These fish are at least legal
minimum size.

TOTAL NUMBER OF
OTHER FISH YOU
CATCH

1 Fluke

0 to 3 Fluke

3 Black Sea Bass
50 scup

20 Black Sea Bass
10 scup

Other fish you catch.

NUMBER OF OTHER
LEGAL-SIZE FISH YOU
CAN KEEP

TRIP DETAILS

Other fish you catch on this
trip that can be legally kept.

Trip C

3 Black Sea Bass
20 scup

0 Black Sea Bass
5 scup

$130

$60

Do something
other than
saltwater
fishing.

TOTAL TRIP COST
Your share of the fishingrelated, transportation, and
other expenses. This cost
would not cover anyone else
on the trip.

If you were presented with these three options, which
one would you choose? 
(Choose only one option.)

Trip A

9

Trip B

Trip C

SECTION C: SALTWATER FISHING TRIP FEATURES
This question will help us understand which features of the saltwater
fishing trip options in Section B did not factor into the choices you made.

When you made your choices in Section B, were there any fishing trip features that you did
not consider? Please select the trip features that you did not consider when you made
those choices. If all the trip features factored into your choices, just skip this question.

Trip features from Section B questions that I did not consider. Select all that apply.
Number of fluke you catch

I did not consider this feature

Trip Cost per person

I did not consider this feature

Number of scup or black sea bass you
keep

I did not consider this feature

Number of scup or black sea bass you
catch

I did not consider this feature

Number of fluke you can keep

I did not consider this feature

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SECTION D: ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD
These questions will help us understand whether our sample is
representative of the angler population.

6. Gender: Select all that apply (Optional)
Female

Male

Transgender, non-binary, or another gender

Prefer not to answer

7. In what year were you born?
Year born (YYYY)

8. What is the highest level of education you have completed?
Some high school

4-year degree

High school graduate or GED

Some graduate school

2-year degree or trade school graduate

Master’s degree (ex: MA, MS, MBA)

Some college

Professional or doctoral degree

9. Which of the following categories best describes your household’s total annual
income before taxes in 2021?
Less than $20,000

$80,000 to $99,999

$20,000 to $39,999

$100,000 to $149,999

$40,000 to $59,999

$150,000 to $199,999

$60,000 to $79,999

$200,000 or more

THANK YOU FOR PARTICPATING!

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please call 800-229-5220 Option 3
or email Scott.Steinback@noaa.gov

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