Recreational Fisheries Survey

April 21, 2022

Question: What does CDFW do with data from its recreational sport fishing surveys?

Answer: The California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS) was designed to meet specific management needs for all of California’s diverse recreational marine finfish fisheries and provide accurate and timely estimates of fishing effort and catch. The CRFS team depends heavily on angler cooperation for accurate survey estimates. CDFW would like to thank anglers in advance for taking the time to participate in telephone or in-person dock surveys.

There are two ways that recreational anglers can contribute to the accuracy of the data:

1.   Anglers should cooperate with the CRFS sampler conducting the interview. Please answer the CRFS interview questions truthfully. Take the time to allow the sampler to examine and measure any catch. As a result of increased sampling levels, recreational anglers, particularly those who fish frequently, are more likely to encounter CRFS samplers conducting the survey. Every fishing trip is different — different target species, success rates, different locations, different gear, etc. — so CDFW asks anglers to please complete this survey each time you are asked, even if you’ve completed it before.

2.   Say “yes” to the CRFS telephone surveyor. Licensed anglers are contacted randomly throughout the year and asked questions about their fishing habits. Data collected through this telephone survey are used to estimate fishing effort that cannot be estimated through field observations, such as night fishing and fishing from boats that depart from and return to private marinas. Personal contact information is kept confidential.

For more information visit CDFW’s California Recreational Fisheries Survey webpage at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/CRFS.