Natural Resources Board approves lake trout emergency rule
MADISON, Wis. - An emergency rule governing the lake trout harvest in Lake
Superior gained approval Wednesday from the Wisconsin Natural Resources
Board.
The rule, which includes a daily bag limit of three lake trout in key
recreational areas, was developed through extensive public input including
an online survey, two public meetings this fall as well as written comments,
said Terry Margenau, DNR Lake Superior fisheries supervisor. The emergency
rule is designed to preserve a sustainable lake trout harvest in the
Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior and addresses both commercial and
recreational harvest limits.
Population assessments over the last six to eight years indicate a decline
in lake trout abundance. The new emergency rule follows a previous emergency
rule that had reduced the daily bag limits on lake trout to two fish.
The new rule, which will be sent to Gov. Scott Walker for review and
approval before it takes effect, establishes a recreational daily harvest
limit east of Bark Point (WI-2) at two fish between 20 and 25 inches and one
fish greater than 40 inches. Throughout the open harvest season in these
waters, if the recreational lake trout harvest reaches 7,350 or 75 percent
of the allowable recreational harvest of 9,800 fish, the fishery will
transition to catch and release only for the remainder of the season, which
ends September 30.
For waters west of Bark Point (WI-1), the three-fish total daily bag limit
includes a 15 inch minimum size limit and only one fish that is greater than
25 inches. Bag limits in the waters west of Bark Point will not be affected
by the 75 percent trigger.
The new rule also separates lake trout from other trout species for
clarification. This change will allow sport anglers to harvest five trout in
addition to their lake trout bag.
"While lake trout were formerly part of the five trout bag limit, the new
rule will allow an angler the potential to harvest, for example, five brown
trout plus their bag of lake trout," Margenau said. This would apply to both
WI-1 and WI-2 waters of Lake Superior.
The rule also revises harvests for commercial fishers and prohibits
previously allowed fishing in the Gull Island refuge. However, because of
agreements among the parties to the Lake Superior Fishing Agreement, the
rule also removes restrictions from the Hagen's Beach area, opening this
area to commercial fishing between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2016.
The recreational lake trout season runs from Dec. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30,
2016; the commercial season runs from Nov. 28, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016.
For more information about management of the Lake Superior fishery, search
the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for "Lake Superior fisheries management."