Fishing industry hurt by the economy | The Dispatch

Tony Garitta

The economic slowdown has aversely affected numerous industries including the fishing industry.

A February 2009 survey conducted by AnglerSurvey.com indicates that only 54 percent of the respondents plan to fish waters outside of their home states this year. A February 2008 survey had more than 59 percent of the respondents planning to fish out-of-state waters.

For those states where fishing is a major economic drawing card and tourist attraction, the news is disheartening, though expected.

The 2009 survey also asked fishermen to indicate their favorite saltwater game fish.

The striped bass emerged as the most popular with 20 percent of the surveyed anglers indicating that they fished for striped bass at least once during the season.

The various species of flounder ranked second in popularity with 19 percent of the respondents indicating they targeted flounder of some kind.

The rankings of other species were grouper, snapper, and sea bass (14 percent); redfish, also called red drum or channel bass (13 percent); spotted sea trout and weakfish (13 percent); and bluefish (12 percent).

The survey inquired about the most targeted species, not the most commonly caught or kept species.

Fishermen who participate in the surveys are eligible for a monthly drawing for a $100 certificate and an annual drawing for a $1,000 fishing tackle shopping spree. For details, visit www.AnglerSurvey.com and click “Take the Survey.”  Click link below for full story!

via Fishing industry hurt by the economy | The Dispatch | Davidson County’s News Source.