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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. ? The federal government says recreational saltwater fishermen pumped more than $31 billion into the U.S. economy in 2006, with Florida leading the pack.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says in a report released Monday that saltwater anglers spent $5.8 billion nationwide on expenses related to their fishing trips, such as ice and bait. Another $25.6 billion was spent on fishing equipment.
Florida anglers led the nation by spending more than $16 billion. Texas fishermen came in second with just more than $3 billion spent, followed by California, Louisiana and North Carolina.
At the national level, saltwater anglers are estimated to have spent $5.8 billion on trip-based expenses, such as ice, bait, and fuel, and another $25.6 billion on fishing equipment and durable goods like fishing rods, fishing tackle, and boats.
The report says the money spent nationally supported nearly 534,000 jobs. Officials say those figures will likely drop for 2007 and 2008 because of current economic woes.
In addition to quantifying angler expenditures, this study examines how these expenditures circulated through each state's economy and the national economy using a regional assessment. The $31.4 billion in total U.S. expenditures in 2006 contributed $82.3 billion in total sales, $39.1 billion to gross national product and $24 billion in personal income.
<U>IT LOOKS LIKE WE STEPPED IT UP A LITTLE FROM THE 5 BILLION DOLLAR MARK</U></DIV>