The Substitutability of One Type of Fishing for Another

We investigated the willingness of saltwater anglers in Florida and Texas to substitute other types of fishing for the type of fishing they most preferred. Anglers were asked if there was a suitable substitute for their most preferred species and, if so, what species would provide them with the same satisfaction and enjoyment as their most preferred species at the same cost. Most anglers (86%) reported that other species would provide acceptable substitutes for their preferred species and were able to identify acceptable substitutes from a list of common saltwater species in Texas and Florida. Logistic regression was used to determine the effects of demographic and fishing participation variables on willingness to substitute. Willingness to substitute was positively related to years of education and negatively related to age and the importance placed on trophy‐seeking experiences. Also, females were more willing to substitute than males. Results suggest that for some species substitution behavior in response to biologically or managerially imposed constraints on fishing activity could result in increased effort for other species in the saltwater fisheries of Texas and Florida.