Estimating Boat-Based Fishing Effort in a Marine Recreational Fishery

Abstract

Four methods of estimating the number of angler trips in a marine recreational fishery are compared: an aerial census, a roving census, a Petersen mark-recapture estimate, and an angler-maintained catch record combined with an angler-interview system. The first three methods produced comparable results but the fourth produced much higher estimates which we concluded were too high. For continuing programs, mark-recapture estimates seemed best for unbiased estimates that are relatively cost effective. For spot or individual studies, a roving census seemed best for unbiased estimates that are fairly precise and provide the maximum amount of information.