Premium
Walleye and Sauger Mortality Associated with Live‐Release Tournaments on the Lake Winnebago System, Wisconsin
Author(s) -
Hoffman Gregory C.,
Coble Daniel W.,
Frie Richard V.,
Copes Frederick A.,
Bruch Ronald M.,
Kamke Kendall K.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1996)016<0364:wasmaw>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - stizostedion , tournament , limiting , fishery , fishing , catch and release , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , toxicology , environmental science , mathematics , recreational fishing , engineering , combinatorics , mechanical engineering
Mortality was estimated for three, 2‐ or 3‐d, professional, live‐release tournaments for walleye Stizostedion vitreum and sauger S. canadense held on the Lake Winnebago system, Wisconsin, in 1991 and 1992. Estimated initial mortalities for the three tournaments were high—48%, 34%, and 80%—perhaps because the lake temperature exceeded 20°C. Estimated delayed mortalities (within 1 week of release of tagged fish) were 18%, 9%, and 0%. Estimated tournament‐related long‐term mortalities, based on tag return rates during the ensuing year, were 1%, 2%, and 0% of the total catch for each tournament. Comparison of the estimated harvest for tournament and nontournament anglers for the month of tournament activity indicated that the tournaments accounted for up to 25% of the estimated total harvest of walleyes in June. Tournament mortality might be reduced by holding tournaments when water is cool, by limiting stress on fish (e.g., by requiring aeration of live wells and holding tanks and by avoiding large temperature changes), and by limiting catch (e.g., by restricting creel limits, fishing time, and angler participation; by increasing size limits; and by establishing a “catch‐measure–release” procedure).