Lake Erie Perch

[Western Basin bob]

Do Erie fishermen agree that 2001 was the best year for Perch since they imposed the limit? (both size and numbers)

[Tim FRick]

Yes the perching as been great but that's do to great hatches we have had. The guys I talked to have taken about the same amount or more of perch as they did before the limit change. So I'm not 100% sure if the limit thing caused these great years. I could be wrong though. Good question for Mr. Synder from Ohio Sea Grant!
Good Luck!!
Tim FRick

[Capt. Denny Bergeman]

Bob,

I agree. It has been the best since they imposed limits. Good Fishing.

[Snyder-Ohio Sea Grant]

I believe Lake Erie's yellow perch population have benefitted from several things - and certainly from some more than others.

1) Spawning success has been relatively good over the last seven years (lots of those jumbos last fall were hatched in 1996 - an excellent year-class). Division of Wildlife and Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC)surveys show that perch had successful reproduction in five of the last seven years. And 2001 looks like a real good one.

2) The growth rate is good. Growth rates of perch typically show a good bit of variation from year to year, but today's perch population is encountering quantities of mayfly nymphs, amphipods (little shrimp-like critters) and young-of-year gobies that weren't there in such numbers 10 or 12 years ago. In addition, supplies of emerald shiners and gizzard shad have remained good.

3) The perch are ALLOWED to survive to older ages. This is a big one. Most sport anglers want higher bag limits and commercial fishermen want higher quotas. But the perch harvest is currently as high as the GLFC calculates it can be while still protecting the recovery of the lake's perch population. One of the major signs that a fish population is being overharvested is when the sizes seen in the catch decline down to the lowest size that fishermen are willing to keep. The presence of so many big fish shows that survival is relatively good. (This can be said about Erie's walleye population also). For the record, over the last eight years the portion of Erie's total perch harvest taken by sport anglers(vs. commercial) has averaged just under 60 percent.

What lies ahead? The 1996 hatch is being reduced in number but will still give good numbers of jumbos this fall. The '97 hatch was very poor. The '98 and '99 hatches were above average (they will sustain good fishing) while 2000 brought a poor one. I don't have the Division of Wildlife's index number for 2001, but it was a very good hatch. In our research trawls at the F. T. Stone Laboratory last summer, I couldn't recall a year for seeing so many young-of-year perch.

It looks from here like this heavily-harvested fish population is being managed well. Credit should be given to the Ohio Div. of Wildlife and their neighboring jurisdictions.

[Western Basin bob]

SSnyder-
That's whatI was thinking. Thanks for the info!
WBB

[FreeByrd]

Thanks for the information Fred.

[Denied]

Thanks Fred, thats the kind of information we long for.
How goes it on the new "Ohio Sea Grant / Fred Snyder and company Speaks" web site? WE are all looking forward to the delivery of this now baby :).
dean

[bob oh]

Thanks Fred it is always good to get some real
information aobut Lake Erie.

[Bopper]

Fred, thank you, we welcome you and Ohio Sea Grants facts and knowledge about our favorite sport.