Is the MRIP the Best Recreational Survey Design?
The MRIP is the only long-term, continuous recreational fishing survey using consistent methods over time. For monitoring and assessing Florida’s most popular recreational fisheries, the MRIP is an invaluable data set. Because the MRIP is a large-scale regional survey, it is most effective for monitoring species frequently encountered in dockside surveys over large portions of the state. For small, localized fisheries or for species that are less frequently encountered in dockside surveys, supplemental data on recreational fishing may also be needed to adequately monitor and assess the fishery. For example, large pelagic species such as tunas and swordfish are not frequently encountered in dockside surveys and NMFS collects additional data on these fisheries through the issuance of special licenses and catch reports. The Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation Commission (FWC) also conducts additional angler surveys for red drum, common snook and spotted seatrout in Tampa Bay and southe
