Columbus, OH Ohio Sea Grant and Ohio State University Extension professionals have published the results of a 2010 Lake Erie charter captains survey in the December 2012 issue of Fisheries, the magazine of the American Fisheries Society. The issue is now available online (Fisheries vol. 37 no. 12, December 2012).
Lake Erie charter fishing is an important contributor to small coastal communities, where it represents a large part of the area’s tourism appeal. The updated socio-economic information provided by the Ohio Lake Erie Charter Captain’s survey every four years assists those wanting to promote this aspect of Lake Erie sport fishing.
The seventh Ohio Sea Grant survey of the Ohio Lake Erie charter industry was developed and implemented by Ohio Sea Grant Extension agents Joe Lucente, Tory Gabriel, and Frank Lichtkoppler, along with Ohio State University Extension agent Greg Davis and former Ohio Sea Grant agent Colleen Wellington. The project was funded by an Ohio Sea Grant development grant.
“The results of the 2010 Ohio Lake Erie Charter Captains survey accurately documents the status, characteristics, economics, and human dimensions of the Great Lakes’ largest charter fleet”? says Lichtkoppler, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Program Leader.
A total of 239 Ohio licensed Lake Erie charter captains (49% of those surveyed) completed the survey based on the 2010 charter fishing season. Mirroring difficult economic conditions across the Great Lakes, Ohio charter firms conducted an average of 10.1 fewer charter trips (34.6 trips) than they did in 2006 (44.7 trips). Average total revenues in 2012 were about $10 million, down from more than $11.5 million in 2006, a decline of 13% over four years.
“Ohio’s professional Lake Erie charter captains provide anglers a safe fun experience on a truly great lake. Those fishing with a professional charter captain have a consistently higher catch rate compared to the average private boater”? explained Lichtkoppler.
Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant program is part of NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 32 Sea Grant programs dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. For more information, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu.
Contact
Frank Lichtkoppler, Ohio Sea Grant, lichtkoppler.1@osu.edu.