Combining creel intercept and mail survey methods to understand the human dimensions of local freshwater fisheries

Abstract

Creel surveys were conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at two lakes were used as a means of sampling anglers for follow‐up mail surveys. After the collection of fisheries dependent data from fishing parties on randomly selected days, anglers were randomly selected and told of an forthcoming mail survey they would receive within 90 days. They were asked to provide their names and addresses on a confidential basis. The mail survey provided detailed coverage of the anglers intercepted (e.g. their social and demographic characteristics, level of fishing experience and involvement, experience preferences, consumptive orientation, management preferences, attitudes and satisfaction levels), characteristics of the trip when they were intercepted (i.e. trip length, party size and expenditures by location), and lake‐specific issues of concern to management. This add‐on methodology is described with particular attention to sample size considerations, creel intercept and mail survey procedures, recall bias, response rates and administrative concerns.