Summary of 2012 DNR and Partners Fisheries Surveys in St. Clair/Lake Erie and Fishery Forecast for 2013 LE/LSC Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee April 2, 2013 Michael Thomas Fisheries Research Biologist
A Fishery is the Intersection of 3 Components Fish People Habitat Fishery Social and Economic Benefits
Social and Economic Benefits Food harvest fisheries (yellow perch and walleye) provide important source of protein Finance economic activity generated by fishery in the MI waters of the St. Clair system in 2004 >$36 million MI LE fishery exceeds $5 million annually Fun fishing for fun is a major objective for much of the recreational fishery having fun has physical/mental benefits for people Function ecological functions of fish benefit society important indicators of ecosystem health (canary-in-thecoal-mine)
Lake Erie Fishery
Number harvested (X1,000,000) Angler hours (X1,000,000) Lake Erie Fishing Effort and Harvest 2.5 5.0 2.0 4.0 1.5 3.0 1.0 2.0 0.5 1.0 0.0 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 Walleye Yellow perch Angler hours 0.0
Lake Erie Interagency Trawl Index YOY Walleye Catch, 2012 0 1 5 10
Age-0 WAL/ Ha Lake Erie Interagency Trawl Index (pooled OH and ONT YOY walleye trawl catch) 200 150 100 50 0 90 95 00 05 10 Survey Year 1st and 3rd quartiles 7
Walleye Age Composition Michigan Creel Survey - 2012 2005 5% 2004 4% 2003+ 10% 2010 24% Age 2 TL= 15.1 2006 3% Age 4 TL= 20.1 2007 17% 2008 15% Walleye Percent of harvest by yearclass for 2012 Michigan Lake Erie sport fishery (N=800) 2009 22% Age 9 TL= 25.9
Lake Erie Walleye Diet 70% 60% 62% 58% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 2% 0% 2% Shiners Gizzard shad White perch Round goby Unid. Fish 223 walleye stomachs sampled 213 contained diet items 1,922 identifiable diet items Avg. 17 food items per stomach
Yellow Perch Age Composition Michigan Creel Survey - 2012 2007 8% 2006 <1% 2005+ <1% 2010 20% Age 2 TL= 8.5 2008 25% Age 3 TL= 9.8 2009 47% Yellow Perch Percent of harvest by yearclass for 2012 Michigan Lake Erie sport fishery (N=846) Age 4 TL= 8.0
Yellow Perch Abundance MU1 (Catch-at-age model estimates) 80 70 60 2 3 and Older 50 40 30 20 10 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 Lake Erie yellow perch population estimates for MU 1 for age 2 (red bars) and ages 3+ (blue bars). Estimates for 2013 are from ADMB and regressions for age 2 from survey gears.
Lake Erie s Problems/Issues Today
Photos: Mike Thomas MDNR Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station
Lake St. Clair Fishery MODIS: March 29, 2013
Yellow Perch The most sought after species in LSC Open water and winter ice fishery 53% of the total fishing effort directed at YP MI anglers harvest about 750,000 each year
June Index Trawl CPUEs by Year Class LSC Yellow Perch 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Walleye Walleye fishing ~ 30% of the boat fishery 80% of all legal-sized walleye caught are harvested ~40,000 legal-sized walleye are harvested from LSC by MI anglers yearly 2012 was very good Most walleye caught in LSC are migratory
Charter boat walleye catch rate for LE and LSC 1.2 1 Lake Erie Lake St. Clair 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 LE Minimum size limit increased to 15 in 2004
Smallmouth Bass SMB fishing ~ 20% of the boat fishery effort (2004) >100,000 legal-sized SMB caught annually from MI LSC waters >90% of all legal-size SMB caught are released SMB fishing attracts many out-of-state anglers Many tournaments target SMB
CPUE (TN=#/24 hour lift; TR=#/acre swept) Smallmouth Bass catch rates from LSC TN and TR Surveys by Year Class 30 25 YOY Trawl CPUE Total TN CPUE 20 15 10 5 0 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Year class
Total length (in.) LSC SMB length-at-age compared with Statewide Average (SWA) 25 20 LSC SWA 15 10 5 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Age
Number of fish St. Clair System SMB Master Angler Entries 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 Catch and keep Catch and release 39% of all 2012 SMB MA entries were from St. Clair System waters
Muskellunge Legendary muskie fishery: high catch rates and increasing numbers of large fish 30% of all LSC charter fishing trips target muskie ~99% of all muskies caught on LSC are voluntarily released Fishery expanded and diversified in recent years
Weight (lbs.) Weight at age by sex for LSC muskellunge (Trap net catch 2005 to 2012) 40 35 Males Females 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 Age N=215
And There s More! White bass Abundant populations of other species that provide even more diversity for the fishery Includes unique fishing opportunities for mooneye and lake sturgeon
Lots of People and Good Access
LSC Fishery is Intense
NO STOCKING! Good water quality, diverse habitat Abundant submerged aquatic vegetation Plentiful food resources for small fish Sound fisheries management protects spawning populations
But Wait There s Still More! Seasonal salmonid fisheries supported by stocking of brown trout and steelhead Chinook and coho salmon, lake trout, and even lake whitefish add further diversity to the fishery
Shorefishing too! 2012 shore fishing creel survey on St. Clair River Over 70,000 angler hours (Apr.-Oct., daylight) Catch >50,000 fish, harvested >20,000 Most harvested species White Bass
2013 Fishery Forecast Self-sustaining stocks of yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and muskellunge will continue to provide high quality recreational fishing opportunities for SE MI anglers from Lake Erie to Port Huron Abundant populations of other species add more diversity to the fishery Seasonal salmonid fishery will continue to add further diversity to this incredible fishery Weather conditions can greatly influence fishing effort and fishing success from year to year Water levels will have an impact on access for some anglers and can affect fish distribution High fuel prices can reduce fishing effort
Thank You! Email: Thomasm4@michigan.gov