Summer Flounder Catch Rates: Are Public-Boating-Access Anglers Really as Successful as Private-Access Anglers?

The Atlantic coast federal recreational fishing survey (MRFSS) obtains catch rate information for boating anglers from interviews at public launch sites.  Because they have no access to anglers that launch from private-access sites (such as waterfront homes and private marinas), the assumption is made that the two types of anglers have equivalent catch rates.  This assumption was criticized by the NRC review of MRFSS, but has proven difficult to test.  The Maryland Fisheries Service partnered with the Ocean City group of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association to test this assumption.  Volunteer MSSA members handed out catch rate survey cards to boating anglers while they were fishing in "Flounder Alley", a compact area in the Coastal Bays of Maryland.  Anglers sent in their cards at the completion of the trip to MDNR, so that we had information on completed trips.  Results of our project will be sent to the design team for MRIP.