But The Fishing Was So Good!

[Yankee Troller]

I'm sure I'll get roasted again for my concerns, but the stats just keep getting worse. All I'm asking for at this point is for someone "in charge" to care enough to study why. Isn't that a part of what biologist do? The data is right here, and it's also on the North shore derby leaderboard. Maybe there is nothing we can do about it. Maybe there is? This whole Great Lakes fishery was an experiment, and look what it turned into. Can we try something for Christ sakes?

 

[GAMBLER]

In the past, they didn't want to bring in new genetics because they didn't want to mess with the current strain that has adapted to naturally reproducing in Lake Ontario.  They could do Triploid salmon.  They are sterile so they wouldn't mess with the genetics.  Stock a percentage of the kings stocked as triploids.  We could have numbers of kings AND some giants lingering around.  We were told for years that the salmon size was down due to the bait biomass being smaller.  The last couple of years, the biomass has been way up.  By the logic of what we have been told for years, we should have giant kings again.  I'm with you 100%.  Something needs to be done.  

[BRsnow]

I agree, I loved the glory days and wish they could bring it back. When I can drive to South Dakota and catch the same size kings as you catch in Lake Ontario there has to be a problem:-)

[luckystrike]

Just guessing...but maybe cormorants reducing bait fish populations and way more fisherman days is part of the reason why there is steady downward trend in the heaviest salmon caught. I think the same general trend is happening on the north shore.       I was looking on the Lake Ontario Management Unit website and they have links to annual reports from 1991 to 2024 and a phone number and email contact info.   GLFC -- Lake Ontario Committee  The fisheries Biologists and Technicians should have some idea what is happening.    Personal observation...Fishing was still good on the north shore this summer, my biggest was 27 lbs but I do remember the glory days of catching 30 to 33 lb salmon  back around 1997 to 2002.

[BRsnow]

49 minutes ago, luckystrike said:

Just guessing...but maybe cormorants reducing bait fish populations and way more fisherman days is part of the reason why there is steady downward trend in the heaviest salmon caught. I think the same general trend is happening on the north shore.       I was looking on the Lake Ontario Management Unit website and they have links to annual reports from 1991 to 2024 and a phone number and email contact info.   GLFC -- Lake Ontario Committee  The fisheries Biologists and Technicians should have some idea what is happening.    Personal observation...Fishing was still good on the north shore this summer, my biggest was 27 lbs but I do remember the glory days of catching 30 to 33 lb salmon  back around 1997 to 2002.

I would be amazed if there are more fishing days targeting salmon than back in the day. It used to be bumper to bumper.