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+--- Thread: New Regs For Erie Smallies, Walleyes (/showthread.php?tid=53755)
New Regs For Erie Smallies, Walleyes - davetclown - 07-07-2003
New Regs For Erie Smallies, Walleyes
COLUMBUS, OH--Proposed measures by the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW) intended to provide long-term stability for Lake Erie's walleye and smallmouth bass populations might result in significant regulation changes for 2004. The proposals will be finalized and presented later this summer to the Ohio Wildlife Council, and would go into effect March 1, 2004.
The ODOW plans to propose reducing the spring walleye limit from four to three fish per day from March 1 to April 30, as well as creating a year-round walleye size limit of 15 inches.
The Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission has advised member agencies to prepare for a "40 percent to 60 percent reduction in total allowable catches (TAC) for 2004."
State fisheries biologists are also proposing closing smallmouth fishing in May and June, when the fish are laying eggs and guarding their nests.
The proposal comes in response to concern that the round goby, an invasive fish species, is hurting smallmouth populations by preying on bass eggs and fry. Gobies arrived from eastern Europe in the ballast water of transoceanic ships and multiplied rapidly during the 1990s, becoming abundant throughout Lake Erie.
In addition, tagging studies conducted in cooperation with the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association and Ohio Sea Grant have confirmed limited movements or small home ranges of Erie smallmouths. Fish that are tagged and released are likely to be found at a later time in the same location. This raises concerns about removing smallmouth during the spawning season, and explains how serious nesting failures are to local populations.
Another potential negative factor impacting smallmouth bass is the double-crested cormorant, a bird that dives to feed on small fish including juvenile bass. Neither gobies nor cormorants were present in Lake Erie just 10 years ago.
The ODOW, based on a hearing to be scheduled this summer, consultation with anglers, and further review of the recent research information, will finalize the proposals between now and September. Ohio Wildlife Council action will likely take place in October 2003.
Michigan is planning something simmilar. dropping form 6 walleyes to 4.
there will be some unhappy campers on lake erie in 2004 there is no doubt in my mind, as to wether or not canida is going to do the same I havent herd, wether they do or not, if you leave out of the ohio port and travle into michigan or canada and you return to the ohio port your limit is still going to be 3 walleyes.
but this all about fishing, if you realy want more walleye for the buck you can buy one at the store for near the same price of going out and catching one.
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