Florida State Reef Fish Survey

Is Data From YOUR Fishing Trip Being Used to Help Inform Management Decisions?

Recreational fishing is a popular pastime in Florida and an 11.1-billion-dollar industry that supports 70,570 jobs. Ensuring the sustainable harvest of Florida’s fisheries is necessary for anglers to be able to continue to enjoy catching their favorite fish from one generation to the next. However, estimating fish abundance and removals due to recreational fishing is not an easy task.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) utilizes the State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS) to collect data from private recreational anglers on 13 different reef species across the state (Red Snapper, Vermilion Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Hogfish, Gray Triggerfish, Greater Amberjack, Lesser Amberjack, Banded Rudderfish, Almaco Jack, Gag Grouper, Black Grouper, and Red Grouper). We rely solely on the participation of saltwater anglers, like yourself, to collect accurate data about your fishing trips. The more data we collect from anglers, the more the fishing effort and catch data will represent what you experience on the water. Ultimately, the data gathered from anglers on these 13 reef species provides estimated harvest and release data that are used in stock assessments and inform management decisions. In fact, data collected from fisherman during the SRFS survey has led to consistently longer fishing seasons for Gulf Red Snapper. FWC needs your help to make sure management decisions are based on accurate data from as many fishermen as possible for Red Snapper and the other reef species.

How is my data used?

The information you provide through SRFS helps scientists and managers monitor annual harvests and assess the health of fisheries. Since the program’s expansion statewide in 2020, SRFS has played an increasingly important role in stock assessments across both Gulf and South Atlantic waters, offering a more reliable and precise method compared to previous recreational sampling practices. A stock assessment is a scientific process that uses data to estimate a fishery’s productivity, abundance, and sustainable harvest levels. The Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) process coordinates federal stock assessments in the southeast region of the United States, including both coasts in Florida. Throughout the SEDAR process, SRFS data is combined with information from commercial fisheries, charter recreational data, fishery research, and biological data to create a comprehensive picture of a species’ status. Most recently, SRFS data was used in assessments for Gulf Red Grouper, Yellowtail Snapper, and Mutton Snapper. These peer-reviewed stock assessments are then used by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Gulf Council to update management measures.

How can you make sure your data is included?

There are 3 ways you can contribute to SRFS:

1. Register as a State Reef Fish Angler. Recreational anglers who target or harvest any of the 13 SRFS species from a private recreational vessel are required to obtain the State Reef Fish Angler designation, including anyone over 65 and those spearfishing. This designation is free and easy to add to your saltwater fishing license. If you have a lifetime or 5-year license, you can now opt in to have your SRFS designation set to auto-renew for the duration of your license period. Sign up for the State Reef Fish Angler designation anywhere saltwater fishing licenses are sold—including the Go Outdoors Florida licensing system, the Fish|Hunt Florida mobile app, by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356), or at tackle shops, sporting goods stores, and tax collectors’ offices. Be sure to update your information annually so we have the correct address to send you a survey if selected.
2. Participate in the dockside interviews. FWC biologists are in the field to meet you at the docks once you return from your fishing day. They will conduct a short interview and record information about your fishing trip. If anyone on the boat targeted or caught one or more of the 13 SRFS species, then those anglers are eligible for a more detailed interview including questions about gear type, depth fished, area fished, and what species they caught and released. Biologists may even ask to weigh and measure your catch and take biological samples. Please participate! These interviews take just a few minutes and help fisheries scientists estimate recreational harvest and obtain key biological information for fisheries stock assessments.
3. Fill out and submit the mail survey. A subset of State Reef Fish Anglers will be randomly selected to receive a survey by mail about their fishing activity. The survey is mailed to the address entered when you purchase your fishing license, so please make sure your contact information is up to date. The data you provide in this survey is used to estimate the total number of recreational fishing trips for reef fish by region during a given month. Even if you did not fish for reef fish, your feedback allows scientists to more accurately determine fishing effort. If you receive a survey, please respond and return as soon as possible, even if you did not fish in the given month!

As you can see, there are several ways you can contribute data about your recreational fishing trips to support fisheries science and management. Florida’s recreational fishery is the largest in the nation, and its successful management depends on precise, reliable data. The State Reef Fish Survey would not be possible without the support from recreational anglers like yourself! Thank you for helping us ensure a sustainable fishery for generations to come!

Have a question about marine fisheries regulations, improving recreational data or catch and release? We are here for you. Send us your questions, photos and fishing tales.

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