AnglerSurvey.com monitors sportsmen and women’s monthly outdoor activities, purchases and opinions, mostly to gauge the current climate of all things fishing. The most recent surveys had some surprising, and not-so-surprising results.

Surprising: Fishing equipment is not a big holiday gift item. “Forty percent of anglers did not receive or purchase fishing equipment as a gift, 22% said they did receive fishing equipment as a gift. Only 22% said they did give and receive equipment as a gift over the season.”

Surprising: Friends are the best source for product information. Forty percent of people questioned reported friends had the greatest influence on a fishing purchase, not a personality.

Not-so-surprising: Most anglers choose to release the big whoppers. In fact, 60% of anglers said they release most of the fish they catch. Only 21% keep most or all of their catch, and 18% responded they release all the fish they catch. Increased releases may have to do with more stringent laws, particularly in states such as Florida.

Not-so-surprising: Anglers use magazines as their top source to learn more about fishing and for fishing entertainment. Forty percent of anglers reported magazines as their top sources and 24% replied Web sites. Florida Sportsman and Shallow Water Angler magazines have you covered.