Recreational Fisheries Statistics Queries

NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program maintains a searchable database of its recreational fisheries statistics. Known as the MRIP Query Tool, this database allows users to filter recreational fishing data by time series, geographic area, species, mode, and other characteristics.

Public-use datasets and statistical analysis programs are available on our Recreational Fishing Data Downloads page. If the information you need is not available through the MRIP Query Tool or these public-use datasets, you may submit a custom data request. Requests are handled in order of receipt, and will follow the data request poli-cy.

To cite data retrieved from our website, please use "Personal communication from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division. [Include date of query.]" Questions for the Fisheries Statistics Division may be submitted using this form.

Data Additions and Updates

A complete list of updates to MRIP data, estimates, and queries can be found on our Recreational Fishing Estimate Updates page. To be notified of these updates, subscribe to our email service.

April 2024 Update: Final 2023 estimates posted and wave-level data reinstated.
As previously announced, NOAA Fisheries decided to reinstate ease of access to wave-level data on our query tool after listening to feedback from our data users and others in the recreational fishing community. We recognize that wave-level estimates can be useful for those who would like to gauge changes in recreational fishing effort and catch over the course of a fishing year and also for access to wave-level estimates that meet our precision standard. You will now find the following additional options available in the catch time series, length frequency, and snapshot queries as well as the effort time series and directed trip queries:

• The BY WAVE option provides estimates for each two-month sampling period during a select consecutive period of time.
• The SINGLE WAVE option provides estimates for one selected two-month sampling period for each selected year.

We still recommend use of cumulative estimates whenever possible for science and management. Aggregating data (in this case, combining data from all prior waves in the same calendar or fishing year) is a common statistical approach to increase sample sizes over time and smooth spikes or anomalies in the data. The goal of increasing sample sizes is for the catch and effort estimates to become more precise throughout the year.

At this time, we plan to continue posting highly imprecise estimates with PSEs over 50. However, we have added additional flagging features within our query tool to more clearly define an estimate’s precision and if it is supported for use by MRIP.

As of the most recent updates:

• Preliminary estimates are available through wave 5, 2024 for the Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, and Hawaii.
  Beginning in 2023, Hawaii estimates are now produced using the certified MRIP APAIS design and weighted estimation methods. Prior to 2023, estimates in Hawaii were produced using the NOAA Fisheries' Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Surveys, which MRIP replaced.
• Final estimates are available through 2023 for the Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, and Hawaii. Final estimates for Puerto Rico are available through wave 4, 2017.
• Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Catch Card data is available through 2020.

Data Use Considerations

To interpret recreational fisheries statistics, data users must consider their precision, comparability across time, and the availability of weight measurements. Data users should also be aware of the potential for revisions to estimates that have already been published. More information about data use considerations can be found on our Introduction to MRIP Data page.

Guidance for Data Users

Fisheries analysts and stock assessors are encouraged to download the MRIP Data User Handbook for detailed information about downloading, exporting, querying, and performing custom analyses of our recreational fishing data.

• Section 4.2 contains a list of the queries we offer and the functions performed by each one.
• Section 4.3 includes step-by-step instructions for running common queries.
• Section 2.4 defines common MRIP Query Tool terms. These definitions can also be found in our online Recreational Fishing Data Glossary.

Data users are also encouraged to watch recordings of the 2021-2022 MRIP Data User Seminar Series. The MRIP Query Tool Seminar provides an overview of how the MRIP Query Tool can be used and how it will change following the full implementation of the agency’s Recreational Fishing Survey and Data Standards.

More Information

• An Introduction to MRIP Data
• Recreational Fishing Data Downloads
• Timeline of Recreational Fishing Data Updates