Recreational fishing site choice models: Insights and future opportunities

Abstract

This article reviews published research that has focused on the recreational fishing site choices made by anglers. A conceptual model for predicting fishing site choice is developed by synthesizing the findings from past studies that employed fishing site choice models. From these and other relevant studies, six general attributes (i.e., costs, fishing quality, environmental quality, facility development, encounters with other anglers, and regulations) are identified that may influence an angler’s selection of a fishing site. The article also enhances the conceptual model by accounting for differing preferences among anglers, for complex substitution patterns among fishing sites, for fishing participation decisions, for habit forming behaviors and for differences in anglers’ awareness levels for fishing sites. Finally, the article discusses several avenues that researchers could exploit to improve on past fishing site choice model studies. © 2005 Taylor & Francis.