Using survey research in support of fisheries management: The 1994 Texas statewide angler survey

Despite widespread recognition of the importance of human dimensions research in fisheries, fisheries managers and field personnel need greater understanding of the general approaches to angler surveys and specific methods for conducting them. Instead of focusing on study results, we developed the background for how and why the most recent Texas statewide angler survey was completed. From our 10 years of cooperative experience with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, we highlight the need for developing relationships between fisheries managers and social science researchers, and we discuss survey objectives, question development, sample size considerations, appropriate sampling frames for angler studies, other pertinent design issues, and strategies for using survey results in fisheries management. Finally, we make recommendations on how state fisheries agencies can most effectively gather and report human dimensions information.