Table 1:

The Economic Impact of Recreational Tarpon Fishing in

the Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte Harbor

Region of Florida

Prepared for:

The Everglades Foundation

18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 625

Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157

Prepared by:

Tony Fedler, Ph.D.

9707 SW 55

Road

Gainesville, FL 32608

(352) 339-2787

[email protected]

January 2011

The Economic Impact of Recreational Tarpon Fishing

in the Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte

Harbor Region of Florida

Executive Summary

Southwest Florida is renowned throughout the fishing world as a place for truly memorable

tarpon fishing experiences. Anglers travel from throughout Florida, the U.S. and the world

seeking resident and migratory fish that can weigh upwards of 200 pounds. These anglers spend

money in the local economy for guides, food, lodging, boats, fuel, tackle, bait and many other

items. The extent of this economic activity has only been guessed at because no studies of its

impact have been undertaken. To overcome this lack of information, the Everglades Foundation

funded a study through the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust to estimate the economic impact of the

tarpon fisher in Southwest Florida. The Everglades Foundation’s specific interest was in the

extent of tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River and the greater Charlotte Harbor area and

the economic impact associated with this fishing.

Florida saltwater fishing license buyers from the four counties surrounding the

Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte Harbor area (Charlotte, Collier, Lee and Sarasota counties)

were identified from a file of state fishing license buyers for 2009-2010. This group of anglers

was selected because of the probability of encountering a tarpon angler and the low probability

of encountering anglers that fished for tarpon in the region that resided elsewhere in Florida or

throughout the U.S. A random sample of 4,000 saltwater fishing license buyers from the four-

county area were selected to receive either an e-mail or postcard invitation to participate in an

online survey designed to collect the fishing and expenditure data needed for the study. Slightly

more than 43% of the anglers receiving a survey request completed the survey.

The survey showed there were 67,936 active licensed saltwater anglers residing in the four-

county region. About 84% of these anglers fished in saltwater in the study region. Of these

study area saltwater anglers, 26,899 or 47% targeted tarpon during at least one day during the

year. Resident anglers were on the water 268,000 days targeting tarpon during the year,

averaging about 10 days each. Tarpon anglers in the region spent about $237 per day and $2,362

annually while fishing for tarpon. Aggregating expenditures for all tarpon fishing in the region

results in $63,539,000 in direct expenditures for tarpon fishing being made for fishing-related

goods and services in the local economy during the year. Further compounding these

expenditures are the Indirect Impacts that fishing-related businesses and their employees spend

in the local economy as a result of their involvement in the recreational fishing industry. These

supplemental expenditures contribute an additional $45,075,000 to the local economy which

brings the total economic impact of tarpon fishing in the region by resident anglers to

$108,614,000. This total impact accounts for $33,245,000 in local salaries, wages and business

owner income and 1,094 full-time equivalent jobs in the local economy. Tarpon angler spending

also contributes $8,032,000 in taxes to the federal treasury and $6,598,000 in taxes to state and

local governments.

Tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River system accounted for $9,650,000 of the direct

expenditures by local anglers in the region. The total economic effect of these expenditures was

estimated to be $16,496,000.

The economic impact estimates of tarpon fishing in this report should be considered very

conservative. Because of the limitations of the study, important groups of tarpon anglers were

not included. For example, many resident anglers from within the state travel to Southwest

Florida to pursue tarpon during the spring and summer months. These anglers either trailer their

boats to the area or utilize one of hundreds of local guides in pursuit of tarpon. A second group

not included in the study was non-resident anglers. Anglers travel from throughout the United

States, Canada and other foreign countries to specifically fish for tarpon in Southwest Florida.

All these anglers spend money in the local economy on food, lodging, and other goods and

services during their trips.

Tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River was a relatively small portion of the total fishing

days and expenditures of local anglers. However, the true value of the river to tarpon and other

fisheries is not known. The freshwater flows are important for maintaining productive river and

estuarine habitats that likely play a vital role in portions of the life-history of tarpon throughout

the Southwest Florida region. Whether it is nursery or rearing areas for juvenile tarpon, habitat

for prey species or other factors that cause migratory tarpon to linger in the bays and sounds

within the region, the river is an important component of the Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island

Sound ecosystems. Understanding how the river effects habitat for tarpon and other species is

essential to the long-term health of the tarpon fishery and sustaining the economic benefits that

the fishery brings to the economy of Southwest Florida.

iii

Table of Contents

Section Page

Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………….. ii

List of Tables…………….………………………………………………………………… iv

List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………… vi

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………… 1

Study Objectives……………………………………………………………………….. 2

Study Methods……………………………………………………………………………… 3

Economic Impact Analysis……………………………………………………………… 5

Results……………….……………………………………………………………………… 7

Survey Response………………………………………………………………………... 8

Saltwater Angling……………………………………………………………………….. 8

Tarpon Angling………………………………………………………………………….. 11

Angler Expenditures for Tarpon Fishing………………………………………………… 12

Discussion and Conclusions…………………………………………………………………. 14

References……………………………………………………………………………………. 17

Appendix A: Online Survey Questionnaire…………………………………………………. 18

List of Tables

Table Page

Table 1: Saltwater angler population and sample numbers for the Southwest

study area…………………………………………………………………………. 4

Table 2: Survey response rates by survey request delivery method……………………….. 8

Table 3: Number of anglers and days saltwater fishing by Southwest Region anglers……. 9

Table 4: Number of anglers and days fishing in each of eight Florida regions……………. 10

Table 5: Percentage of days spent targeting various species………………………………. 10

Table 6: Number of tarpon anglers in Southwest Florida study area and days

saltwater fishing…………………………………………………………………... 11

Table 7: Tarpon fishing activity by tarpon anglers and location…………………………… 12

Table 8: Annual saltwater and tarpon fishing expenditures made by study

area tarpon anglers………………………………………………………………… 13

Table 9: Economic impacts of angler expenditures for tarpon fishing in the

Southwest Florida study area and the Caloosahatchee River……………………… 14

List of Figures

Table Page

Figure 1: Map of eight Florida regions ……………………………..………..…………… 9

The Economic Impact of Recreational Tarpon Fishing in the

Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte Harbor Region of Florida

Tarpon. These ancient, exotic fish prowl the coastline of the southern U.S. and range

seasonally from Texas to the mid-Atlantic states. Fascination with Megalops atlanticus by

anglers from around the world has spawned dozens of books and articles on the allure of tarpon

fishing (e.g. White and Brennen 2010) and how to catch them (e.g., Sargeant 1991, Cole 1997,

Larmouth et. al. 2002). Further building the interest in tarpon fishing has been videos like Andy

Mill and Tim Hoover’s Chasing Silver that captures the excitement, drama and difficulties of

tarpon fishing.

Anglers seek tarpon for their spectacular leaping ability, their gargantuan size and dogged

fighting ability. When 200 pound fish mingle with their smaller 80 or 120 pound brothers and

sisters, anglers become hopeful of going toe-to-tail with the Mohammad Ali of the shallow-water

piscatorial world. Knowledgeable and successful tarpon guides build their businesses on these

hopes and can charge a thousand dollars or more per day to help anglers fulfill their dreams of

catching a trophy sized fish during the migratory season.

Nowhere are these magnificent fish pursued more vigorously than southern Florida with

world-wide renown attached to places like the Florida Keys, the Everglades and Boca Grande

Pass. The allure of tarpon in southern Florida permeates local anglers and draws adventurous

anglers throughout North America, Europe, Asia and other continents. These anglers

collectively spend millions of dollars on travel, equipment and services to stalk laid-up tarpon in

the Florida Keys, enjoy the acrobatics of smaller fish in the backcountry waters of Everglades

National Park, or battle the giants of Boca Grande Pass.

For years the popular press and local communities alike have extolled the economic benefits

that saltwater fishing in Florida brings to shoreline communities. We know that saltwater fishing

in Florida generates $3 billion in angler expenditures each year and supports 52,000 jobs

(Southwick Associates 2007). Yet, we do not know the value of one of the most visible and

revered species of fish in South Florida This lack of economic information becomes critical

when decisions on freshwater flows and habitat alterations that affect tarpon and other species

are being made by water managers and governments as they are in South Florida.

The value of acquiring species-level economic impact data has been recognized by the

Everglades Foundation through their funding of a grant to the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. This

grant focused on estimating the economic impact of tarpon fishing on the Caloosahatchee River

and Charlotte Harbor area of southwest Florida. The Caloosahatchee River is the primary

waterway flowing from Lake Okeechobee westward to the Gulf of Mexico. The river and its

adjacent coastal waters are host to resident tarpon as well as large schools of migratory tarpon

that provide the spectacular fishery in famed Boca Grande Pass.

Capturing the economic activity of this regional fishery involved several decisions related to

the scope of the project. As mentioned above, tarpon fishing in Southwest Florida draws anglers

from within the region as well as throughout the state, country and internationally. Contacting

these diverse anglers to collect the needed data posed the greatest challenge to the project. The

greater the distance from the region, the smaller the percentage of anglers traveling to the region

to fish for tarpon. Further, many Florida resident and non-resident anglers are able to fish for

tarpon without buying a saltwater fishing license if they fish with a licensed guide. This

challenge of identifying tarpon anglers, coupled with the level of grant funding, necessitated

restricting the scope of the study to resident saltwater anglers residing in a four-county study area

adjacent to the Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte Harbor.

Study Objectives

 Estimate the number of study area anglers targeting tarpon during the 2009-2010 fishing

year.

 Identify the number of days anglers spend targeting tarpon and other species within the

study area.

 Obtain angler annual saltwater fishing-related expenditures within the study area.

 Estimate annual angler expenditures for tarpon fishing within the study area.

 Estimate annual angler expenditures for tarpon fishing within the Caloosahatchee River

system.

Study Methods

Data for this study was collected from Florida saltwater fishing license holders with licenses

issued during 2009 and 2010. During 2009 and 2010, all saltwater anglers were required to

possess a saltwater fishing license issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission (FWC). Following the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the FWC suspended the

license fee for saltwater licenses to stimulate fishing-related tourism but retained the requirement

that all saltwater anglers possess a valid fishing license.

An electronic file of all saltwater license purchasers during 2009 and 2010 was obtained from

the FWC Licensing Division. License buyers residing in the four counties (Charlotte, Collier,

Lee and Sarasota) surrounding the Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte Harbor area were

selected from the file. Anglers with licenses that permitted them to fish during the July 1, 2009

to June 30, 2010 study period were selected from the overall file of license buyers. From this

group of license buyers, 4,000 were randomly selected to complete an Internet-based survey of

their overall and tarpon fishing activities.

Data on each buyer in the FWC saltwater license file included name, address, date of birth,

type of license purchased, date of license purchase, and e-mail address, if voluntarily provided

by the buyer. The sample of 4,000 license buyers contained 1,876 anglers that provided an e-

mail address. These sample members were sent an e-mail message describing the project and

asking them to click on the embedded survey link to take the survey. Any e-mail sample

member whose message was bounced back as undeliverable was then moved to the pool of

sample members with no e-mail address. Sample members with no e-mail address were sent a

postcard with a brief message about the project and a request to complete the Internet-based

survey. The Internet address of the survey was provided on the postcard.

Two follow-up e-mails reminding recipients about the importance of the survey and

encouraging them to complete the survey were sent at one week and two week intervals

following the initial e-mail survey participation request. Likewise, follow-up postcards were

sent to the postcard group, at one week and two week intervals, reminding them of the

importance of the survey and asking them to complete the survey.

There were 72,648 licensed saltwater anglers in the four county study area identified in the

FWC license file during the study period (Table 1). Slightly more than 31% of these license

buyers had provided an e-mail address at the time of their license purchase. The random sample

yielded 2,740 license buyers that would initially receive a postcard request to complete the

online survey and 1,260 that would receive an e-mail request to complete the survey. The initial

survey requests were sent out in two stages. The first stage consisted of sending the e-mail

request to the 1,260 sample members with e-mail addresses. There were 139 e-mails that were

bounced back as non-deliverable. These 139 license buyers were added to the postcard sample

and received the postcard survey request along with the 2,740 original sample members. The

result was 72% of the sample receiving a postcard request and 28% receiving an e-mail request.

Table 1: Saltwater angler population and sample numbers for the Southwest study area

Delivery

Method

Total N Percent Sample n Percent

Sample n after

initial E-mail

Percent

Postcard

49,785 68.5 2,740 68.5 2,879 72.0

E-mail

22,863 31.5 1,260 31.5 1,121 28.0

Total

72,648 100.0 4,000 100.0 4,000 100.0

Each sample member received two follow-up requests to participate in the survey. E-mail

recipients received two e-mail reminders. Similarly, the postcard recipients received two

additional postcard reminders.

The survey questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first section asked about the

angler’s fishing activity during the past 12 months. This included the number of days fishing

saltwater in Florida and within the study region, regions of the state that were fished during the

past 12 months, and the percentage of days spent targeting various fish species. The second

section focused on tarpon fishing activity throughout the state and within the study area, and

specifically within the Caloosahatchee River area. The final section asked anglers to estimate

their annual expenditures for ten trip-related and nine equipment-related categories.

Economic Impact Analysis

Effective planning for public- and private-sector projects and programs at the state and local

levels requires a systematic analysis of the economic impacts of the projects and programs on

affected regions. In turn, systematic analysis of economic impacts must account for the inter-

industry relationships within regions because these relationships largely determine how regional

economies are likely to respond to project and program changes. Thus, regional input-output (I-

O) multipliers, which account for inter-industry relationships within regions, are useful tools for

regional economic impact analysis.

The RIMS II methodology is the Regional Input-Output Modeling System (Bureau of

Economic Analysis 2006) used in this study. This system was developed and published by the

U.S. Department of Commerce and is one of the primary ways in which to conduct a systemic

analysis of the economic impacts of projects and programs on affected regions. The conceptual

framework of the RIMS II approach is well described by the Community Research Institute at

Grand Valley State University, Department of Economics:

Each economic transaction can be compared to the ripples in a pond. When an

individual trades money for goods or services the value of that money passes to

the recipient like a stone thrown into a pond. That merchant then uses the money

to purchase other goods or services adding a ripple to the pond. This (ripple

effect) process continues many times and the value of the original money

continues to grow.

In economic terms, the use and reuse of funds in the economy produces a

multiplying effect. As monetary transactions are conducted over and over again,

the value of a dollar has the potential to be multiplied many times as it moves

through the economy from transaction to transaction. This multiplying effect is

generated both directly by organizations purchasing goods and services and at a

degree of separation by the employees of those organizations spending their

paychecks. An additional benefit of the multiplier effect is seen in job creation to

provide the goods and services being purchased. This multiplier effect applies to

all economic activity by all organizations and individuals, whether that activity

takes place in the for-profit, nonprofit or governmental sectors. The U.S.

Department of Commerce estimates the multiplication effect on both dollars and

employment as part of the Regional Input-Output Modeling System (RIMS II).

RIMS II was originally developed in the 1980s by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

of the U.S. Department of Commerce, based on the Department of Commerce's input-output

table of the national economy. It breaks out almost 500 separate U.S. industries, many directly

involved in providing goods and services to anglers. RIMS II is widely used in both the public

and private sector. In the public sector, for example, the Department of Defense uses RIMS II to

estimate the regional impacts of military base closings, and state departments of transportation

use RIMS II to estimate the regional impacts of airport construction and expansion. In the private

sector, analysts, consultants, and economic development practitioners use RIMS II to estimate

the regional impacts of a variety of projects, such as the development of theme parks and

shopping malls. RIMS II measures the economic impact of an industry by accounting for three

elements of potential economic impacts:

Direct impacts include employment, payroll, and revenue generated by services and

goods purchased by anglers.

Indirect impacts are what users and employees of the fishing-related businesses spend in

the local and regional economy as a result of their involvement in the recreational fishing

industry.

Induced impacts include the value of goods and services purchased by money generated

by direct and indirect impacts throughout the regional economy -- goods and services not

associated with fishing and which would otherwise not be available.

The summation of direct, indirect and induced impacts produces total economic output and is

expressed as a multiplier that is applied to retail sales associated with an activity, program or

project.

RIMS II multipliers are intended to show the total regional effects on industrial output,

personal earning, and employment for any county or group of contiguous counties in the United

States resulting from any industry activity. Industry descriptions are defined according to the

BEA's 2005 national input-output tables. Induced impacts for fishing-related businesses can be

estimated by applying the RIMS II multipliers to activities within the appropriate industrial

sector. RIMS II multipliers are given in three tables.

The output multiplier measures the total economic output created by the original retail

sale.

The earnings multiplier measures the total salaries and wages generated by the original

retail sale.

The employment multiplier estimates the number of jobs supported by the original retail

sale.

Each fishing-related business is assigned a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. The

fishing-related business is identified by a corresponding RIMS II code, which identifies the

multiplier factor to be applied to that business. Business activities that are most likely

encountered in fishing-related economic studies are represented by the categories used to

measure angler expenditures. To apply the RIMS II model, angler expenditures are each matched

to the appropriate output, earnings and employment multipliers. For example, dollars attributed

to gasoline purchases are multiplied separately by the earnings, output and employment

multipliers specific to gasoline refinement. The resulting estimates describe the salaries and

wages, total economic effects, and jobs supported by the refining industry as a result of fuel

purchases made by anglers. This same process is repeated for all reported expenditures. Finally,

the total output, income and jobs estimated for each expenditure type are summed to produce the

total effect for each impact category.

Federal and state tax revenues are also included in this report and represent separate

estimates from the RIMS II multipliers for state sales tax and federal income tax revenues. For

fishing estimates, sales tax revenues are only associated with original retail sales as it is not

possible to track the appropriate tax rates through the subsequent rounds of spending. Sales tax

estimates also include fuel tax receipts. Federal income tax receipts are based on the total

economic activity created by the original retail sale.

Results

The results of the survey are presented in four sections. First, survey responses are presented

for postcard and e-mail survey request groups. This comparison was made to determine if the

response rates differed, and if so, to conduct further analysis to ascertain if and how the two

sample groups were different with regard to their fishing activity and expenditures. The second

section presents angler fishing activity for Florida and within the Southwest study area. This

information included calculations of the number of anglers, overall days fishing in Florida, the

number of days fishing in the study area, and the percentage of days spent targeting different fish

species. The third section focuses on tarpon fishing throughout the state and within the study

area. Here again the number of anglers and angler days are estimated. The final section

estimates tarpon angler trip and equipment expenditures by tarpon anglers for their overall

fishing and tarpon fishing. Additionally in this section, the indirect and induced impacts are also

presented along with a breakdown of total output, earnings, employment and tax revenues

generated for overall fishing in the study area, tarpon fishing within the study area, and tarpon

fishing within the Caloosahatchee River system.

Survey Response

Southwest study area anglers were pointed to the Internet survey site by either an e-mail or

postcard request. A total of 4,000 resident fishing license buyers were sent a request. Slightly

more than half of the sample members receiving the e-mail request completed the online survey.

After non-deliverable postcard requests were deducted from the postcard sample, the response

rate for this sample was 38.7 percent.

Table 2: Survey response rates by survey request delivery method

Delivery

Method

Sample n

Non-

Deliverable

Net

Sample

Respondents

Response

Rate

Postcard

2,879 627 2,252 872 38.7

E-mail

1,121 0 1,121 578 51.6

Total

4,000 627 3,373 1,450 43.0

The difference in response rates between he e-mail and postcard samples prompted an

analysis to determine if the two groups differed on overall fishing activity, tarpon fishing in the

study area, and annual expenditures for fishing. This analysis did not result in any statistically

significant differences between the two groups across the target variables. The percentage of

tarpon anglers, number of saltwater fishing days, and number of tarpon fishing days were not

statistically different. As a result, all responses were assigned the same weight for calculating

total days fished and expenditures.

Saltwater Angling by Study Area Residents

There were 67,936 active saltwater anglers in the four county Southwest Florida study

region. This was 93.5% of all license buyers during the 12-month study period (Table 3). Of

these active anglers, 83.5% fished in saltwater in the four-county study area. Active anglers

spent an average of 39 days fishing saltwater during the 12-month study period with nearly 35

days of those days occurring in the study area.

Table 3: Number of anglers and days saltwater fishing by Southwest Region anglers

Fishing Location

Number

of Anglers

Total Days

of Fishing

Mean

Days

Licensed saltwater anglers in Region

72,648 2,669,323 36.7

Active anglers fishing in past 12 months

67,936 2,669,323 39.3

Active anglers fishing in SW Study Area

56,752 1,979,167 34.9

Survey respondents were asked to indicate the number of saltwater fishing days they spent in

each of eight regions of Florida (Figure 1). As shown in Table 4, anglers fished predominantly

within Southwest Florida (Regions 3, 4 and 5). Less than five percent of the anglers fishing in

any of the other five regions during the year.

The vast majority of the fishing days spent by anglers in the study area occurred in the

Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte Harbor area (Table 4). About 90% of all days fishing

occurred in Regions 3 and 4 surrounding the study area.

Figure 1: Map of eight Florida regions

Table 4: Number of anglers and days fishing in each of eight Florida regions

Florida Saltwater

Florida Region

Total Number

of Anglers

Days Fishing

Mean Days

Fishing

Percentage

of Days

Fishing

Region 1

784 4,227 <0.1 0.2%

Region 2

2,749 38,447 0.6 1.4%

Region 3

23,365 695,662 10.2 26.1%

Region 4

49,087 1,727,884 25.4 64.7%

Region 5

18,457 173,916 2.6 6.5%

Region 6

2,752 12,077 0.2 0.5%

Region 7

1,767 14,292 0.2 0.5%

Region 8

589 2,818 <0.1 0.1%

Anglers fishing in past 12 months

67,936 2,669,323 39.3 100.0%

Tarpon and non-tarpon anglers were asked to estimate the percentage of days they spent

targeting various inshore and offshore fish species (Table 5). Differences between the two

groups fell principally on fishing for various snapper species and offshore species. Overall,

tarpon anglers targeted tarpon during 15% of their fishing days with another 55% of their days

spent targeting redfish, spotted seatrout and snook. Non-tarpon anglers spent 52% of their days

targeting redfish, spotted seatrout and snook and 17% seeking offshore species.

Table 5: Percentage of days spent targeting various species

Species

Tarpon

Anglers

Non-Tarpon

Anglers

Redfish

20.4 19.7

Seatrout

14.5 15.2

Snook

20.6 17.6

Tarpon

15.0 0.0

Permit

1.5 0.9

Jacks

1.4 2.0

Cobia

2.4 1.9

Sharks

3.0 2.3

Snapper

7.9 14.2

Sheepshead

2.0 3.7

Other Inshore Species

2.7 5.1

Offshore Species

8.6 17.4

Total

100.0 100.0

Tarpon Angling

About 44% of the 67,936 active saltwater anglers residing in the four-county study area

targeted tarpon at least one day each year (Table 6) and 40% targeted tarpon within the study

area. Tarpon anglers spent over 1.6 million days saltwater fishing and averaged 55.5 days of

saltwater fishing in Florida annually. Further, tarpon anglers spent 1.4 million days fishing in the

study area and averaged 47.2 days of saltwater fishing.

Ninety percent of all tarpon anglers residing in the study area fished for tarpon in the study

area (Table 6). The remaining 10% only fished for tarpon outside the study area. Tarpon anglers

fishing within the study area averaged 57.8 days of saltwater fishing overall and nearly 50.9 days

fishing in the study area. Anglers only fishing tarpon outside the study area averaged slightly

more days of total saltwater fishing days annually (62.0) than those fishing tarpon within the

study area, but averaged 15 days less fishing within the study area. Overall, anglers fishing

tarpon in the study area spent 88% of their fishing days within the study area, while tarpon

anglers not fishing tarpon in the study area spent 56% of their days fishing in the study area.

About one-fourth of the tarpon anglers fishing within the study area did some of their fishing

within the Caloosahatchee River system. These anglers spent 91% of their saltwater fishing days

in the SW Florida study area.

Table 6: Number of tarpon anglers in Southwest Florida study area and days saltwater

fishing

All Florida

Saltwater Fishing

Saltwater Fishing in

Study Area

Angler Type and Location Anglers

Total Days

Mean

Days

Total Days

Mean

Days

Tarpon anglers

29,845 1,655,785 55.5 1,408,782 47.2

Non-Tarpon anglers

42,803 1,013,538 39.7 570,385 18.1

Tarpon anglers fishing in SW Study Area

26,899 1,554,078 57.8 1,370,298 50.9

Tarpon anglers fishing outside SW Study Area

7,657 474,568 62.0 269,583 35.2

Tarpon anglers fishing in Caloosahatchee River

6,872 404,669 58.9 370,308 53.9

Tarpon anglers residing within the study area spent about 10 days each year on their overall

tarpon fishing (Table 7). Tarpon anglers fishing for tarpon in the study area also averaged 10

days of tarpon angling. Tarpon anglers residing in the study area but not fishing for tarpon in the

study area only averaged six days of tarpon fishing. Tarpon anglers averaged 5.5 days of tarpon

fishing the Caloosahatchee River system.

Table 7: Tarpon fishing activity by tarpon anglers and location

Angler Type and Location

Tarpon

Anglers

Total Days

Tarpon Fishing

Mean Days

Tarpon Fishing

Tarpon anglers

29,845 316,706 10.6

Tarpon anglers fishing in SW Study Area

26,899 268,405 10.0

Tarpon anglers not fishing in SW Study Area

7,657 48,301 6.3

Tarpon anglers in Caloosahatchee River

6,872 37,502 5.5

Angler Expenditures for Tarpon Fishing

Survey respondents were asked to estimate their trip and equipment expenditures for the

previous 12 months. Study area tarpon anglers were selected and their expenditures presented

from three perspectives: 1) Annual fishing expenditures; 2) Annual expenditures for tarpon

fishing; and 3) Annual expenditures for tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River. As shown in

Table 8, anglers spent $194 million fishing for all species and over $65 million fishing for tarpon

in the study area. Boat-related expenses accounted for 53% of all expenditures tarpon anglers

made for their overall saltwater fishing. Food, drink, refreshments and ice, and rods, reels and

their components were the next two expenditure categories with the greatest dollar volumes.

Tarpon anglers spent an average of $7,226 per year or $237 per day on their saltwater fishing

annually.

Expenditures for tarpon fishing in the study area were calculated by multiplying the average

daily fishing expenditure for an expenditure category by the number of days of tarpon fishing

within the study area. These calculations resulted in an estimated $63 million being spent for

tarpon fishing in the study area by resident tarpon anglers. This averaged $2,362 per angler each

year.

Table 8: Annual saltwater and tarpon fishing expenditures made by study area tarpon

anglers

Annual Saltwater Fishing Expenditures

Expenditure Category

All Fishing Tarpon Fishing

Caloosahatchee

River Tarpon

Food, drink, refreshments, ice

16,866,117 5,512,960 837,275

Lodging, including campgrounds

7,006,605 2,290,221 347,825

Public transportation by airplane, car rental

873,739 285,596 43,375

Private vehicle transportation

7,284,435 2,381,034 361,617

Guide or charter fees

5,324,902 1,740,529 264,341

Fishing licenses and tags

1,329,851 434,683 66,017

Live and dead bait

4,643,778 1,517,893 230,528

Boat and equipment rental

2,896,103 946,638 143,770

Boat moorage, maintenance, insurance, etc.

34,080,159 11,139,645 1,691,822

Boat fuel

33,848,078 11,063,786 1,680,300

Rods, reels and components

10,673,366 3,488,760 529,852

Lines and leaders

2,287,627 747,747 113,563

Hooks, swivels and sinkers

1,761,419 575,748 87,441

Artificial lures, baits and flies

3,318,246 1,084,622 164,726

Tackle boxes, landing nets

1,299,810 424,864 64,526

Minnow traps, cast nets, bait containers

1,565,859 511,826 77,733

Electronic devices and trolling motors

6,760,191 2,209,677 335,592

Boat payments

24,599,202 8,040,643 1,221,164

Tournament fees

4,577,806 1,496,329 227,253

Total Expenditure

194,387,442 63,538,646 9,649,863

Average Expenditure per year

7,226 2,362 1,404

Expenditure per day

237 237 257

Expenditures made by anglers for tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River totaled nearly

$10 million. Anglers that fished the Caloosahatchee River averaged $1,404 per year in

expenditures for their tarpon fishing in the river system (Table 8).

The RIMS II multipliers for Florida saltwater fishing expenditures were used to calculate the

economic effects of angler tarpon fishing expenditures. These effects are shown in Table 9. The

total economic output of tarpon fishing in the study area was estimated to be $108.6 million.

Angler expenditures generated $33.2 million in salaries, wages and business owner income and

1,094 full-time equivalent jobs. Further, tarpon fishing expenditures accounted for $8 million in

federal income tax revenues and another $6.5 million in state and local tax revenues.

Tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River generated nearly $16.5 million in economic

output and $5.0 million in salaries, wages and business owner income. This income accounted

for 166 full-time equivalent jobs. Tarpon fishing in the river system contributed $1.2 million in

Federal tax revenues and an additional $1.0 million in state and local taxes. It should be noted

that the impacts from the study area and the Caloosahatchee River are not additive as

Caloosahatchee River tarpon fishing is a subset of tarpon fishing within the study area.

Table 9: Economic impacts of angler expenditures for tarpon fishing in SW Florida study

area and the Caloosahatchee River

Area of Tarpon

Fishing

Retail Sales

Total

Multiplier

Effect

(Economic

Output)

Salaries,

Wages and

Business

Owner

Income Jobs

Federal

Tax

Revenues

State and

Local Tax

Revenues

Study Area

$63,538,646 $108,614,343 $33,245,486 1,094 $8,031,683 $6,597,956

Caloosahatchee River

$9,649,863 $16,495,686 $5,049,122 166 $1,219,803 $1,002,057

Discussion and Conclusions

Southeast Florida is recognized as one of the premier tarpon fishing areas in the Gulf and

Caribbean region, if not in the world. Over 26,000 local anglers pursue resident and migratory

tarpon throughout the Charlotte Harbor and Caloosahatchee River area. These anglers spend

90% of their fishing days within the region which is a testament to the quality of fishing for

tarpon and other species that reside in or migrate through Southwest Florida waters. Tarpon

anglers spend about 10% of their fishing days targeting tarpon with the remainder focusing on

redfish, spotted seatrout and snook.

The average tarpon angler spends $2,300 per year on trip and equipment related products and

services while pursuing tarpon. This is a very significant portion of their annual fishing

expenditures of $7,200. Slightly more than half of these expenditures are encompassed by boat

purchases, maintenance, insurance, fuel and equipment which total $102 million overall and $33

million for tarpon fishing. Clearly, the boating industry within the region benefits greatly from

tarpon anglers.

Overall, tarpon anglers spend $194 million for their local saltwater fishing. Of this amount,

$63 million can be attributed directly to tarpon fishing. The impact of angler expenditures for

tarpon fishing is enhanced by the additional spending providers of goods and services make to

purchase products and services that support their businesses. This supplemental spending, or

indirect expenditures, adds another $43 million to the effects of angler expenditures for tarpon

fishing to yield an overall economic effect of $108 million from tarpon fishing.

Part of these economic impacts from tarpon fishing can be attributed to the Caloosahatchee

River. Over 6,800 anglers annually fish for tarpon in the Caloosahatchee River system.

Collectively they are on the water about 37,000 days chasing tarpon in the river and spend $9.6

million doing so. These direct expenditures reverberate in the regional economy to produce an

overall economic effect of $16.5 million.

Expenditures for tarpon fishing in the region also supports many jobs in the local economy.

An estimated 1,094 full-time equivalent jobs are attributable to tarpon fishing in the region, with

166 accruing to tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River.

All this economic activity associated with tarpon fishing generates substantial tax revenues

for federal, state and local governments. Sales and fuel taxes resulting from tarpon fishing were

estimated to be $14 million. More than $2 million in tax revenues was collected as a result of

tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River.

The economic impact estimates of tarpon fishing in this report should be considered very

conservative. Because of the limitations of the study, important groups of tarpon anglers were

not included. For example, many resident anglers from within the state travel to Southwest

Florida to pursue tarpon during the spring and summer months. These anglers either trailer their

boats to the area or utilize one of hundreds of local guides in pursuit of tarpon. All these anglers

spend money in the local economy on food, lodging, and other goods and services during their

trips.

A second group not included in the study was non-resident anglers. Anglers travel from

throughout the United States, Canada and other foreign countries to specifically fish for tarpon in

Southwest Florida. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2007) estimated that over 800,000 non-

resident U.S. anglers travel to Florida each year to fish for saltwater species. The number of U.S.

and foreign anglers who fish in Southwest Florida is not known as no studies have been

undertaken to identify the number and origin of these anglers in Florida, where they do their

fishing, and which species they target.

Tarpon fishing in the Caloosahatchee River was a relatively small portion of the total fishing

days and expenditures of local anglers. However, the true value of the river to tarpon and other

fisheries is not known. The freshwater flows are important for maintaining productive river and

estuarine habitats that likely play a vital role in portions of the life-history of tarpon in the

Southwest Florida region. Whether it is nursery or rearing areas for juvenile tarpon, habitat for

prey species or other factors that cause migratory tarpon to linger in the bays and sounds within

the region, the river is an important component of the Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound

ecosystems. Understanding how the river effects habitat for tarpon and other species is essential

to the long-term health of the tarpon fishery and sustaining the economic benefits that the fishery

brings to the economy of Southwest Florida.

References

Ault, Jerald S. 2007. Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries.

CRC Press. 472pp.

Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2006. Regional Multipliers: A Handbook for the Regional Input-

Output Modeling System (RIMS II). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Cole, John N. 1997. Tarpon Quest. The Lyons Press. 112pp.

Larmouth, Donald, Rob Fordyce and Flip Pallot. 2002. Tarpon on Fly. Frank Amato

Publications. 96pp.

Sargeant, Frank. 1991. The Tarpon Book: A Complete Anglers Guide Book. Larsen Outdoor

Publishing. 160pp.

Southwick Associates. 2007. Sportfishing in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation

Powerhouse. Produced for the American Sportfishing Association with funding from the

Multistate Conservation Grant Program.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife

Associated Recreation. Washington, DC: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

White, Randy W and Charlene F. Brennen. 2010. Ultimate Tarpon Book: The Birth of Big

Game Fishing. University Press of Florida. 416pp.

Appendix A: Online Survey Questionnaire

Southwest Florida Tarpon Fishing Survey

The purpose of this survey is to collect information on Tarpon fishing in the Southwest Florida

Region. This survey concerns your fishing activities in the Region ranging from Gasparilla

Sound on the North to Bonita Springs on the South. It also includes the Caloosahatchee River.

The Southwest Florida Region is shown on the map below. (Map courtesy of the Florida

Department of Transportation)

The following questions are about your Saltwater recreational fishing in Southwest Florida Study

Region that ranges from Gasparilla Sound in the North to Bonita Springs in the South. (Please

see map below)

1. On the average, how many DAYS do you spend Saltwater recreational fishing in Florida each

year?

 Number of days saltwater fishing in Florida

2. Did you fish in the SW Florida Study Region in Saltwater during the past 12 months?

 Yes

 No

3. How

many days did you fish saltwater in the SW Florida Study Region during the past 12

months?

 Days fishing in Study Area

4. How many days did you target Tarpon within and outside the Study Area during the past 12

months?

 Days targeting Tarpon WITHIN the Study Region

 Days targeting Tarpon OUTSIDE the Study Region

5. During the past 12 months, did you participate in any Tarpon tagging programs?

 No

 Yes, I had tags but did not tag a tarpon

 Yes, I tagged at least one Tarpon

Southwest Florida Tarpon Fishing Survey

The following questions ask about the fishing trip and equipment expenditures you make

annually for saltwater fishing in Florida. Please estimate your TOTAL EXPENDITURES for

each item in the list. We will use the days fishing information you provided previously to

calculate the proportion of your fishing expenditures for Tarpon fishing in the Study Region. (If

you also provide guide or charter services, only include those expenditures for recreational

fishing not included as operating expenses for your business.)

6. For each item listed below, please estimate your TOTAL EXPENDITURE for saltwater

fishing in Florida during the past 12 months.

6. Study Region Recreational Fishing Expenditures

 Food, drink, refreshments and ice

 Lodging, including campgrounds

 Public transportation by airplane, car rental

 Private vehicle transportation

 Guide or charter fees

 Fishing licenses and tags

 Live and dead bait

 Boat and equipment rental

 Boat moorage, maintenance, storage, insurance, etc.

 Boat fuel

Southwest Florida Tarpon Fishing Survey

7. For each item listed below, please estimate your TOTAL EXPENDITURE on equipment for

saltwater fishing in Florida during the past 12 months.

 Rods, reels and components

 Lines and leaders

 Hooks, sinkers and swivels

 Artificial lures, baits and flies

 Tackle boxes, creels, landing nets, stringers, gaffs, etc.

 Minnow traps, cast nets, bait containers

 Electronic devices such as fish finders, depth finders and GPS and trolling motors

 Boat payments

Southwest Florida Tarpon Fishing Survey

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. The results will help ensure that Tarpon

fishing in the SW Florida will be recognized as a valuable asset to the region and state of Florida

as decisions about the fishery are made in the future.