Economic Activity Associated with Recreational Fishing Along the Texas Gulf Coast

Abstract

This report focuses on estimating the economic activity1 associated with recreational fishing in Sabine Lake/Sabine-Neches Estuary, Galveston Bay/Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary, Matagorda Bay/Lavaca-Colorado Estuary, San Antonio Bay/Guadalupe Estuary, Aransas Bay/Mission-Aransas Estuary, Corpus Christi Bay/Nueces Estuary, Baffin Bay/Upper Laguna Madre Estuary, and South Bay/Lower Laguna Madre Estuary. Each bay/estuary area will define a separate geographic region of study comprised of one or more counties. Recreational fishing, therefore, refers to bay (saltwater) fishing only. The results show trip- and equipment-related spending of residents and non-residents on recreational fishing in each of these regions and the impact this spending had on the economy in terms of earnings, employment and sales output.