This report presents part of a larger, more detailed study of the charter fishing industry on the Texas Gulf coast. The larger study addressed the following research objectives: (1) To inventory Texas charter boat operators; (2) to describe their activity, business structure and profitability; (3) to identify and describe customers of the industry (charter boat fishermen); (4) to evaluate the industry's financial status; and (5) to measure the industry's regional and local economic importance. This report deals with the research method and data derived for the third objective above.