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New Data Collection Method Tested at Fishing Tournament


Contact:
Kathleen Angione, 919/515-9098, kathleen_angione@ncsu.edu
Scott Baker, 910/962-2492 or 910/617-2430, bakers@uncw.edu


Posted Thursday, July 23, 2009

Anglers are invited to help scientists test a new recreational fishing data collection method based on text messaging at the 25th annual Raleigh Saltwater Sportfishing Club King Mackerel Tournament in Atlantic Beach that opens July 31.

Called "RecText" by scientists, the method requires an angler to simply text the results of the boat's daily fishing effort and catch to a computer database.

"Those interested in participating will find instructions and codes in their tournament registration packets, along with a tape measure for measuring fish," says Scott Baker, lead researcher for RecText and fisheries specialist for North Carolina Sea Grant. Paper surveys will be available for anglers without access to a mobile phone. All participants will be entered into a drawing for a total of $450 in cash prizes.

"We're interested in finding a way for anglers to easily submit data," Baker says. Traditionally, recreational fishing effort and catch are tracked through phone calls and site survey estimates. "RecText would augment these techniques, giving every boat in the tournament an opportunity to contribute data for management, not just the boats that weigh-in fish."

Baker and his team first tested RecText last year with six charter boat captains near Wilmington. Captains texted their fishing reports using a special code to an online text-messaging service. A separate database queried the service for updates and put the data into usable form for researchers. There will be a similar format for tournament participants.

"We're testing RecText at fishing tournaments because they may have big impacts on some fisheries," Baker says. Information on king mackerel tournaments are lacking, he adds.

Bruce Andrews, tournament director, says his club is happy to help researchers test RecText: "Anything to try to promote king mackerel, fishing, conservation or research, we're all about."

The tournament runs from July 31 to Aug. 2. For more information, visit www.rswsc.org/tournament.htm. Baker also will test RecText at tournaments in the fall. To learn more about RecText, read the article in the Spring 2009 issue of Coastwatch.

Also, for more information:

Check this article for a reference to Baker's project: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1525/bio.2009.59.7.19.

A journal article for the project was published recently and is available for free via the open access journal format: http://afsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1577/C08-042.1.

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