Florida leads the nation when it comes to dollars spent on saltwater fishing. According to a new study by the National Oceanic and Atompsheric Administration's Fisheries Service, Florida anglers spent more than five times as much as the number two state, Texas.
In 2006, the country's saltwater fishermen contributed more than $31 billion to the U.S. economy, with anglers in Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana and North Carolina leading the way.
Fishermen spent $5.8 billion on trip-based expenses, such as ice, bait, and fuel, and another $25.6 billion on fishing equipment, including rods, reels, tackle and boats.
The top saltwater fishing states were as follows: Florida ($16.7 billion), Texas ($3.2 billion), California ($3.0 billion), Louisiana ($2.9 billion), and North Carolina ($2.0 billion).
The $31.4 billion in total U.S. expenditures supported nearly 534,000 jobs.
The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures in the United States 2006 is available online at: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st5/index.html
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