A study of Texas rivers with attention to river access and recreational fisheries

Abstract

Any angler can legally use a navigable Texas river or stream for recreational fishing. Often, however, the very definition of what navigability means is in question and private property boundaries are unclear. Over 98% of property adjacent to Texas rivers and streams are in private ownership; a unique situation found almost nowhere else. Thus, legal access to Texas rivers and streams by anglers is often difficult. This study seeks to examine and quantitatively describe the diverse range of issues to anglers related to river and stream access in Texas. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a sample of 679 anglers drawn from the 1994 Texas Angler Survey conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Anglers were surveyed to evaluate their attitudes and opinions on river access issue statements, satisfaction with current access levels, fishing preferences, and their willingness to pay for increasing access from willing landowners. Most anglers indicated they would fish more often if more river access points existed (69%) and almost three-quarters felt state agencies should improve public launch facilities (73%). Almost half thought the issue of river and stream access was important (44%).