What is AL Creel?
AL Creel is a survey of Alabama licensed recreational saltwater anglers who are asked to provide information on their fishing activities from which estimates of overall fishing effort and catch for many marine finfish species can be developed and used in the state's marine fisheries management program. The survey was developed to investigate the potential for more timely and accurate estimates of catch and harvest data compared to the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) which is the federal fishing survey that ADCNR's Marine Resources Division (MRD) has relied upon for recreational catch and harvest information.
How it Works
AL Creel is composed of two surveys: one to determine effort (number of fishing trips) and one to determine average catch per angler. As part of the effort survey, licensed recreational anglers and licensed captains/owners of state for-hire licensed vessels (not federally permitted vessel captains/owners) are randomly selected each week and contacted by phone or email to collect their fishing trip information from the previous week. MRD also gathers catch, harvest, and lengths and weights data year-round from recreational saltwater anglers at dockside locations throughout coastal Alabama. The catch and fishing trip information is combined to determine weekly recreational catch estimates for sampled finfish.
2026 Update
- The University of South Alabama will be conducting the effort survey of licensed anglers
- Anglers selected to participate in the effort survey who are contacted by phone will see the call listed as coming from “AL FISH SURVEY”
- Anglers receiving the effort survey by email will see “University of South Alabama” in the ‘From’ field of the email
- It is anticipated AL Creel will be conducted concurrently with NOAA Fisheries’ APAIS (for the second year)
- AL Creel is scheduled for NOAA Fisheries review in 2026. If the review deems the survey meeting nationwide survey consistency standards, AL Creel will replace APAIS in 2027
Upon federal certification of AL Creel, MRD fishery managers will be able to accurate recreational fishing estimates that will aid in the development of more timely management strategies to promote sustainable fishing practices and protect Alabama’s marine resources.
