AnglerSurvey is a monthly consumer monitoring service of Southwick Associates, Inc. Here is their 2008 report for the most sought after species for US anglers in both freshwater and saltwater.
Please note the rankings report the species targeted most often, which is not always the same as the anglers’ preferred species or the species most commonly caught. For example, a Texas angler’s favorite fish may be freshwater trout, but does not pursue trout based on the distance to the nearest trout fishery. Instead he targets bass on most trips – which is reported in the tables below – but catches mostly panfish over the course of the year based on that species high numbers.
The tables show largemouth bass continues to lead as the most targeted freshwater fish in the U.S., followed by panfish, smallmouth bass and trout. Saltwater anglers favor spotted seatrout, red drum, flounder and striped bass respectively. Saltwater anglers often target more than one species per trip, with flounder and red drum frequently targeted in the same trip as spotted seatrout. For more detailed information, contact Southwick Associates.
Freshwater :
| Largemouth or spotted bass | 59.30% |
| Panfish (Crappie, Perch, Sunfish, Bluegill/Bream) | 36.80% |
| Smallmouth bass | 25.30% |
| Trout | 20.10% |
| Catfish | 17.40% |
| Walleye | 14.30% |
| Any freshwater fish that bites | 13.50% |
| Perch | 9.40% |
| Striped bass (freshwater) or hybrid bass | 8.70% |
| Pickerel, pike or muskie | 8.30% |
| Carp | 4.60% |
| White bass and Sunshine bass | 4.50% |
| Steelhead | 3.20% |
| Salmon | 3.10% |
| Saugeye | 2.10% |
| Other fish not on this list | 2.00% |
Based on 11,000+ completed surveys in 2008
Saltwater
| Spotted seatrout or weakfish | 29.50% |
| Redfish, red drum, channel bass | 29.20% |
| Flounder | 27.00% |
| Striped bass | 24.50% |
| Any saltwater fish that bites | 23.90% |
| Bluefish | 21.70% |
| Other fish not on this list | 18.90% |
| Grouper, snapper, sea bass | 15.00% |
| Mackerel (king, spanish, boston, etc.) | 11.40% |
| Snook | 9.80% |
| Shark | 8.10% |
| Dolphin | 6.90% |
| Tuna | 6.70% |
| Rockfish (Pacific coast only) | 5.70% |
| Calico bass | 5.20% |
| Tarpon | 5.10% |
| Yellowtail | 5.00% |
| Bonito | 3.90% |
| Tautog (Blackfish) | 3.70% |
| Billfish | 3.50% |
| Salmon | 2.90% |
| Bonefish | 1.20% |
| Permit | 1.00% |
Based on nearly 4,500 completed surveys in 2008
Southwick Associates, Inc. specializes in natural resource & environmental economic, business and statistical research. Their staff is comprised of economic, business and statistics professionals throughout the U.S. who have in-depth experience measuring the values, benefits and revenues possible from fish, wildlife, and water-related natural resources plus their associated industries. They help clients better address many business, legal, legislative and public communication issues through the practical application of reliable and accurate economic information and statistics.
