Ohio perch limit lowered

[bob oh]

The Division of Wildlife has announced a reduced yellow perch bag limit on Lake Erie, effective Monday, April 9. The action is being taken because data indicating a drop in the perch population were not available when the 2007 regulations were published. The division said 2007 fishing regulations brochures, available at license outlets, state that the daily bag limit is 40 perch, but an executive order reduces that limit to 30 beginning Monday.
The Lake Erie Committee announced last week that the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) for walleye and yellow perch fisheries in the lake would be lowered dramatically.
At that time the lower harvest quotas were not expected to lead to lower bag limits for sport fishermen. However, the Wildlife Division has decided the limit needs to be lowered to stay within Ohio’s perch quota.
Ohio’s yellow perch quota for 2007 is 4.29 million pounds of the lake-wide TAC of 11.38 million pounds. This represents a 34 percent reduction from last year’s quota of 7.48 million pounds in Ohio.
The 2007 lake-wide TAC for walleye is 5.36 million fish, with Ohio’s share or “quota” at about 2.75 million fish, a 54 percent decrease from last year’s Ohio quota of 5.08 million fish.
However, the new walleye quotas will not result in any change in the daily bag limit for sport fishermen, because catches by Ohio anglers do not reach the TAC limits. Last year Ohio anglers caught 1.87 million walleye, will below this year’s quota of 2.75 million fish.
The committee said that weak walleye and yellow perch year classes in 2002, 2004 and 2006 necessitated the lower harvest in 2007 to protect the fishery.
The Lake Erie Committee comprises fishery managers from Michigan, New York, Ohio, Ontario and Pennsylvania.

rod bender bob

[WATER FOX]

wow.i never heard that.it really could get someone in a bad situation.thanks for the info

And Yes Once again the sportsman have to suffer !! While the commercial guys Lie and cheat !! And over harvest and Over Bag just to make a few extra dollars. Like anyone who perch fished last fall knew that something wasn't wrong ? If our legisaltors do not buy our our netters Lake Erie Will be dead Soon !
Yes I do know we have the Canadains to worry about too ? But we first must buy out the netter on our side of the fence. And then we can go after the ones up North ! Sorry If I sound Pissed off but I am.

[ezmarc]

Good move on the DNR's part in my opinion.

The Commercial buy out isn't going to happen. There's not enough political will to make it feasible.

There is a couple bills coming through the Ohio legislatures that will give the ODNR some real teeth to enforce the commercial side and to make tracking of catches easier. This reduction in TAC will probably help to get some more politicians behind it but only if they see votes or loss of votes in it for them. Everyone needs to make their voices heard!

[FISHINFEVER]

great to hear, the perch fishing has been going down hill for the past 3 years. I wish we could do more controlling the commercial side of the fishery on both sides of the border.

FISHIN'FEVER

[bob oh]

I've already talked to my representatives.

rod bender bob

[Wahoo]

Perch fishing going down hill????..What lake are you fishing in???..lol...Your kidding right!
I have been fishing lake erie for nearly thirty five years and last year was amazing!!...If you weren't catching nice perch last year you were in the wrong place...Our limits came fast and furious most days and with some sorting (yes there are TONS of 5 to 7"ers) we ended up with nice box's of perch cosistently.At times it didnt even matter where you fished~they seemed to be everywhere!.We did great all around the east side of kelly's isle and north of green to the snake was awseome as well.What a year!
I think its rediculous to lower the limit~my .02...
I am not sure there was ever a better year for numbers and size (with sorting) was mighty good as well...........FISH HARD~~Wahoo

[FISHINFEVER]

>>>Perch fishing going down hill????..What lake are you fishing in???..lol...Your kidding right!
I have been fishing lake erie for nearly thirty five years and last year was amazing!!...If you weren't catching nice perch last year you were in the wrong place...Our limits came fast and furious most days and with some sorting (yes there are TONS of 5 to 7"ers) we ended up with nice box's of perch cosistently.At times it didnt even matter where you fished~they seemed to be everywhere!.We did great all around the east side of kelly's isle and north of green to the snake was awseome as well.What a year!
I think its rediculous to lower the limit~my .02...
I am not sure there was ever a better year for numbers and size (with sorting) was mighty good as well...........FISH HARD~~Wahoo>>>>>






Yes, I feel for the last three years it's been going down hill. I fish Lake Erie. I fished from the western end to The sandbar In Lorain and for past three years it has taken longer and longer to find the schools get our limit's, yes part of the problem was 4 to 6 " fish, I charter and my clients don't want perch of this size, On the sandbar We used to catch average of 10 and 11" perch and fill the coolers with 7 man limits in a couple of hours, then we would finish the day with walleye fishing, That hasn't been the case the last three years, spent most of the day trying to get a limit of perch then small ones at that. Myself and a couple hundred other charters at tickled to death with the ODNR reducing the limits.

FISHIN'FEVER

[Trophy]

10-4 Emery. Oh by the way that number is the same ratio as the Perch fishing the last couple of years. You fish 10 hours, to catch 4 keepers. It's the same old crap, they can tax the commercial guys for their take (at least what they report as their take)and the government doesn't know how to tax Joe Blow Weekender other than jacking gas up to around 3.50 a gallon. It's just like prostitution, if they could put a meter on it that would be legal.