Expenditure Patterns of South Carolina's Saltwater Private Boat Recreational Anglers

Kandice Kahl
Dept. of Agr.& Applied Economics, Clemson U., Clemson, SC 29634-0355, 864-656-5778, FAX: 864-656-5776, kkahl@clemson.edu

Raymond Rhodes
Marine Resources Div., SC Dept. of Natural Res., PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422

Michalann Evatt
Dept. of Agr.& Applied Economics, Clemson U., Clemson, SC 29634-0355

A telephone survey of South Carolina saltwater recreational fishing license holders was conducted in 1997 by the Marine Resources Division, SC Department of Natural Resources to collect data on the expenditure patterns of respondents who were involved in saltwater fishing in South Carolina during the sampling period. Information was obtained on a variety of variables including the number of days spent fishing, number of fishing trips, expenditures in South Carolina fishing supplies, food, lodging, etc., overall purpose of the fishing trip, and species of fish targeted. In addition, selected demographic information was obtained (i.e. age, race, sex, occupation, household income, and education). Based upon the mailing addresses of license holders, the following three geographic strata were sampled: the SC coastal region, the SC non-coastal region, and out-of-state areas, mainly Georgia and North Carolina. The results and implications of this survey will be discussed.