The Fishing Line - September 23rd Edition
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 09/23/2022 03:35 PM EDT |
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The Fishing Line - September 23rd Edition |
Freshwater Fishing, Fisheries Management, and Fishing Access NewsIn This Issue:
Free Fishing Day - Saturday, September 24
Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of the Free Fishing Day this Saturday (September 24). This designated day coincides with National Hunting & Fishing Day, so what better opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the great fishing opportunities our state has to offer. The requirement for a fishing license is waived during free fishing days, but all other fishing regulations still apply. See what local fishing spots await by visiting our website. Some areas of the state are holding fishing programs on Free Fishing Day. Visit the DEC Events Calendar to find an event near you. Lake Erie Open Lake Angler Survey Update - August 2022
Angler effort in August 2022 was above the 20-year average (65,953 angler-hours) and more than 10,000 angler hours over the effort seen last August, with a large majority of anglers (71%) targeting walleye. Walleye: Daytime angling effort was the 3rd highest in the last 20 years, with 55,161 angler hours spent (average = 42,891 angler hours). August walleye angling effort was distributed fairly evenly, with Cattaraugus Creek (30%), Buffalo (24%), and Dunkirk (22%) all accounting for at least twenty percent of the effort. Anglers targeting walleye harvested 6.5 fish per boat trip on average, with a catch rate of 0.63 fish per hour, the 4th highest August catch rate for walleye in the last 20 years, behind only 2017, 2018, and 2019. About 18% of daytime walleye anglers achieved a 6 fish limit this August with an average size of 20.2 inches. Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth bass effort (11,545 angler hours) was below the 20-year average (11,883 angler hours) but was higher than each of the past ten years. Most (95%) of the bass fishing effort in August occurred out of Buffalo. The August bass fishing quality was below average in 2022, with anglers targeting bass catching an average of 5.3 bass per boat trip with a catch rate of 0.45 fish per hour, the 3rd lowest catch rate for smallmouth bass in the last 20 years (August average = 0.72 fish per hour). Yellow Perch: Yellow perch fishing effort was very low in August 2022, with only 6 perch angler interviews for the entire month. Live from New York, it's Lake Sturgeon!
Lake sturgeon raised at DEC’s Oneida Fish Hatchery and Genoa National Fish Hatchery in Wisconsin are stocked in early October into the tributaries of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. This fall, DEC and New York Sea Grant have teamed up with other partners to raise awareness about sturgeon. Below is a schedule of public events where live sturgeon raised at Oneida Hatchery will be on display. At these events, people will be able to see lake sturgeon up close and ask questions of educators and scientists from DEC, New York Sea Grant, and other partners, eager to share their knowledge about sturgeon. Additional participating organizations include The Aquarium of Niagara, Seneca Park Zoo, New York Sturgeon for Tomorrow, New York Power Authority, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Geological Survey. Come help us celebrate the continuing recovery of lake sturgeon throughout the Great Lakes Basin in New York. Sturgeon Viewing Events:
Tackle Box Troubleshooting Tips
Hopefully, you're finding the new Tackle Box feature in DEC's HuntFishNY app informative and easy to use. Here are a couple of tips in case you've run into some hiccups.
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