POST SEASON SUMMARY - DRAFT Date: November 30 th, 2008 NICOMEN SLOUGH/NORRISH CREEK RECREATIONAL FISHERY ASSESSMENT October 13 th to November 30 th, 2008 Table 1 Nicomen Slough salmon retention limits for the 2008 recreational fishery. Species Retention Openings Daily Limits Notes Coho Jan 1 to Dec 31 4 hatchery, only 2 above 35cm Chinook No openings listed - Chum Jan 1 to Dec 31 2 Sockeye No openings listed - Pink No openings listed - All Species All Dates 4 4 total salmon daily Note - Nicomen Slough is open from the confluence of Siddle (Bell s) Creek downstream to the Fraser River Table 2 Norrish Creek salmon retention limits for the 2008 recreational fishery. Species Retention Openings Daily Limits Notes Coho Jan 1 to Dec 31 4 hatchery, only 2 above 35cm Chinook No openings listed - Chum No openings listed - Sockeye No openings listed - Pink No openings listed - All Species All Dates 4 4 total salmon daily A complete listing of regulations can be viewed at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Region recreational fishery webpage: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish/default_e.htm All Fisheries and Oceans fishery notices can be viewed at: http://ops.info.pac.dfo.ca/fishman/fnotice/fnotice.htm STUDY AREA The 2008 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek study area extends from the mouth of Nicomen Slough to its confluence with Norrish Creek and up Norrish Creek to a point approximately 200 metres upstream of the Hawkins Pickle Rd. bridge crossing. METHODS The Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery survey began on October 13 th and ended on November 30 th, 2008. One surveyor assessed the fishery. In October, the day was divided into two shifts (morning or afternoon) that spanned the entire daylight period. Shifts were randomly assigned to each survey day. By the start of November, daylight hours have reduced making only one shift necessary. The surveyor was stationed at the boat launch near the end of River Rd. from October 13 th -31 st, since most of the angling effort (shore and boat-based) was captured at this site. Although interviews can be obtained from 1
boat-based anglers returning from other systems (mainstem of the Fraser), these were excluded from the Nicomen analyses. In order to generate daily angler profiles, the surveyor conducted hourly rod counts of the boat launch and approximately half of a km of the shore, upstream of the boat launch. The surveyor also spent approximately 20 minutes of each hour of their survey day collecting incomplete interviews from anglers fishing along River Rd. When angler effort decreased at the boat launch, the surveyor was stationed at Norrish Creek for the remainder of the study period (November 1 st to 30 th ). The surveyor was stationed at the Hawkins Pickle Rd. bridge crossing at Norrish Creek. Hourly rod counts were conducted within visual range (up and down) of Hawkins Pickle Road, near the hatchery, where angling activity was concentrated. The surveyor also spent approximately 20 minutes of each hour of their survey day collecting incomplete interviews from anglers fishing along Norrish Creek. Complete interviews were obtained from anglers who had finished fishing for the day. At the end of their shift, the surveyor collected interviews from anglers still fishing (incomplete interviews), when possible. Sites where hourly rod counts were conducted had a total of 9 counts per day. IRCs (Instantaneous Rod Counts of anglers actively fishing) of the entire study area were scheduled once per week for each day type, by vehicle (i.e. one weekday and one weekend count). Historically, angler effort on holidays equals that on weekend days; as such, holidays were pooled with weekend days and classified as weekend day types. Weekday IRCs were randomly assigned to a day from Monday through Friday (excluding holidays); weekend IRCs alternated between Saturday and Sunday; and once per year, a holiday was chosen to assess rather than a weekend day. Surveyors worked all weekends and holidays with rotating days off during the weekdays. Surveyors worked one of two shifts (morning or afternoon), which were randomly assigned to each survey day. These shifts combined to span the entire daylight hours for each day type surveyed (weekday and weekend) during this study period. Data were blocked by day type (weekday or weekend) as well as the following time blocks: 1 October 13 th to 31 st 2 November 1 st to 15 th 3 November 16 th to 30 th Surveyors conducted angler interviews at their survey site(s) to obtain the following information: where the angler was fishing, length of angling trip, how much longer they intend to fish, target species, gear used, total catch retained, and total catch released. Further, if permitted, the surveyor inspected any catch to verify whether the angler s species identification was correct and to check for mark status. For coho, if the adipose fin was clipped (AFC) the surveyor would request to retain the head due to the possible presence of a coded-wire-tag (CWT). If there was any doubt that an adipose might have been clipped for a particular fish, for example if the adipose fin was partially regenerated or malformed, the fish was classified as AFC. The angler always retained the option of turning the head into a local depot themselves. The anglers were also requested to recall (if possible) the mark status of any released fish. Interviews were used to determine harvest-per-unit effort in hours (HPUE), release-per-unit effort in hours (RPUE), and to summarize the angler characteristics listed above. Daily effort is calculated using a combination of hourly rod counts conducted at the survey site and IRCs of the study area. Total angling effort is estimated by multiplying each day type s estimated daily effort (weekday and weekend) by the number of that day type in the study period. Using the total effort estimate, HPUE and RPUE are expanded to determine harvest and release numbers by species for the entire study area for the period assessed. Such analyses are documented in several DFO publications (Schubert 1992; Schubert 1995). Interview data, hourly rod count data and overflight data were stored and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The data were verified in two steps. First, all field data sheets were examined for compliance with study procedures by the supervising technician and/or the creel data manager. Second, all entered data were error checked once by the supervising technician. 2
RESULTS Angling Effort Profile An angling effort profile for each day type was generated (Figure 2 and 3) using hourly rod counts at the survey sites (River Rd. boat Launch in October and Norrish Creek in November). Oct 13-31 Nov 1-15 Nov 16-30 Proportion of Daily Angler Effort (% of total effort) 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 Time of Day Figure 1 Angling effort profile by hour during weekdays from October 13 th to November 30 th during the 2008 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery. Oct 13-31 Nov 1-15 Nov 16-30 Proportion of Daily Angler Effort (% of total effort) 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 Time of Day Figure 2 Angling effort profile by hour during weekends from October 13 th to November 30 th during the 2008 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery. 3
Survey Effort Table 3 Total number of angler interviews in which harvest was recorded with the proportion of inspected catch, species ID and AFC status, for the 2008 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery. Total # of interviews Total # of interviews with harvest Proportion of harvests which were inspected Proportion of inspections which had correct species ID Proportion of inspected CN harvests that were AFC Proportion of inspected CO harvests that were AFC Oct 13-31 299 7 0.71 1.00 0 1.00 Nov 1-15 326 35 0.94 1.00 0 1.00 Nov 16-30 190 13 0.92 1.00 0 1.00 Angling Effort Table 4 Retainable species, average target species, species harvested and released, estimated total angling effort and average trip length for the 2008 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery. Oct 13-31 Nov 1-15 Nov 16-30 Retainable Species CO, CM* CO, CM* CO, CM* Average Target Species CO CO CO Estimated Total Angling Effort (hrs) 4,605 3,660 956 Average Trip Length (hrs) 3 3.4 3.3 Salmon Species Harvested CO CO CO Salmon Species Released CO, CM CO, CM CO, CM * - Retention of chum was listed for the Nicomen Slough only; not Norrish Creek. Catch Rates Table 5 Average HPUE for the 2008 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery. HPUE Oct Nov 1-15 Nov 16-30 Chinook Adult 0 0 0 Chinook Jack 0 0 0 Coho Adult 0.008 0.4 0.2 Coho Jack 0 0 0.001 Sockeye 0 0.002 0 Pink 0 0 0 Chum 0 0 0 Table 6 Average RPUE for the 2008 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery. RPUE Oct Nov 1-15 Nov 16-30 Chinook Adult 0 0 0 Chinook Jack 0 0 0 Coho Adult 0.2 0.6 0.2 Coho Jack 0 0 0 Sockeye 0 0 0 Pink 0 0 0 Chum 0.07 0.5 0.04 4
Table 7 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery assessment results for October 13 th to 31 st, 2008. Data stratified by day type (weekday and weekend (including holidays)), catch status, species and AFC status. NICOMEN SLOUGH/NORRISH CREEK RECREATIONAL FISHERY ASSESSMENT RESULTS (STUDY PERIOD: October 13-31, 2008) Source Data Weekdays Weekend Open Days in Study Period 14 5 Number of Survey Shifts 8 5 Number of Interviews 141 158 Interview Hours 377 517 Estimated Total Angling Effort (Hours) 3,195 1,410 Catch Estimates Weekdays Weekends Harvest Release Harvest Release Coho Adult 25 76 11 0 marked (adipose missing) 25 8 unmarked (adipose present) 0 3 Coho Jack 0 0 0 0 Chum 0 271 0 44 5
Table 8 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery assessment results for November 1 st to 15 th, 2008. Data stratified by day type (weekday and weekend (including holidays)), catch status, species and AFC status. NICOMEN SLOUGH/NORRISH CREEK RECREATIONAL FISHERY ASSESSMENT RESULTS (STUDY PERIOD: November 1 15, 2008) Source Data Weekdays Weekend Open Days in Study Period 9 6 Number of Survey Shifts 5 6 Number of Interviews 123 203 Interview Hours 379 733 Estimated Total Angling Effort (Hours) 1,252 2,408 Catch Estimates Weekdays Weekends Harvest Release Harvest Release Coho Adult 36 20 108 210 marked (adipose missing) 36 108 Coho Jack 0 0 7 0 marked (adipose missing) 0 7 Chum 0 86 0 95 6
Table 9 Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery assessment results for November 16 th to 30 th, 2008. Data stratified by day type (weekday and weekend (including holidays)), catch status, species and AFC status. NICOMEN SLOUGH/NORRISH CREEK RECREATIONAL FISHERY ASSESSMENT RESULTS (STUDY PERIOD: November 16-30, 2008 ) Source Data Weekdays Weekend Open Days in Study Period 10 5 Number of Survey Shifts 6 5 Number of Interviews 76 114 Interview Hours 232 396 Estimated Total Angling Effort (Hours) 522 434 Catch Estimates Weekdays Weekends Harvest Release Harvest Release Coho Adult 14 142 7 45 marked (adipose missing) 14 7 Coho Jack 1 0 0 0 marked (adipose missing) 1 0 Chum 0 18 0 16 7
Table 10 - Nicomen Slough/Norrish Creek recreational fishery assessment summary for October 13 th to November 30 th, 2008. Total harvest and release (weekday and weekend data combined). Data stratified by catch status and species. NICOMEN SLOUGH/NORRISH CREEK RECREATIONAL FISHERY ASSESSMENT RESULTS Oct Nov Nov 2008 13-31 1-15 16-30 TOTALS Number of Interviews 299 326 190 815 Interview Hours 894 1,112 628 2,634 Number of Overflights 6 6 4 16 Average Overflight Count 33 36 8 26 ANGLER EFFORT Estimated Effort (hours) 4,605 3,660 956 9,221 ESTIMATED TOTALHARVEST Coho Adult 36 144 21 201 Coho Jack 0 7 1 8 Chum 0 0 0 0 ESTIMATED AFC HARVEST (included in estimated total harvest) Coho Adult 33 144 21 198 Coho Jack 0 7 1 8 ESTIMATED RELEASE Coho Adult 76 230 187 493 Coho Jack 0 0 0 0 Chum 315 181 34 530 8
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Biological oversight provided by J. Mahoney. Technical oversight was provided by J. Evans. Technical support was provided by L. Head and C. Wilmot. Sincere thanks are expressed to all anglers who participated in the voluntary creel interviews. REFERENCE MATERIAL Schubert, N.D. 1992. Angler Effort and Catch in the 1985-1988 Lower Fraser River Sport Fishery. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences No. 2170. Schubert, N.D. 1995. Angler Effort and Catch in Four Fraser River Sport Fisheries, 1991. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2267. Pollock, K.H., C.M. Jones, and T.L. Brown. 1994. Angler survey methods and their applications in fisheries management. American Fisheries Society Special Publications 25. Guthrie, D., J.M. Hoenig, M. Holliday, C.M. Jones, M.J. Mills, S.A. Moberly, K.H. Pollock, and D.R. Talhelm, editors. 1991. Creel and angler surveys in fisheries management. American Fisheries Society Symposium 12. 9