Muskie Regulation Focus Group Meeting Chris Penne Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Presentation Roadmap • Status of Utah’s TM program • Trends in management nationwide • Results of 2015 Utah angler survey • Goal for meeting
Status of Tiger Muskie Mgmt. in Utah Tiger muskie first stocked in Utah in the 1980s • Nearing 30 years of muskie in UT • Pineview first water to be stocked
Stocking Moratorium 2007-2009 • Concerns about VHS (viral hemorrhagic septicemia) in imported muskie fingerlings prompt a halt to stocking
Stocking Moratorium 2007-2009 Three actions taken: 1. Catch & release regulation on Pineview and Newton reservoirs. 2. Search for clean stock of muskie 3. Construction of Lee Kay Warm Water Fish Hatchery
Catch & Release Regulation Implemented in 2008 in order to conserve existing fish
Search For a Clean Stock of Fish • Search lasted over 3 years • Certified disease free sources eventually found in Nebraska and South Dakota
Lee Kay Warm-Water Fish Hatchery • Construction begins in 2008
Lee Kay Warm-Water Fish Hatchery
Lee Kay Warm-Water Fish Hatchery Many improvements made over the years
2009: Stocking Resumes
2012: Utah Stocks Own Tiger Muskie
2013: A Major Setback (…and a black eye)
2014 • Stocking continues with fish imported from Nebraska – Pineview receives 10,000 fingerlings • New brood muskellunge obtained for Lee Kay Hatchery
2015 • Utah continues to produce & stock its own tiger muskie. – 2,400 fish raised and stocked • An agreement with Nebraska allows Utah to meet and exceed stocking quotas – Pineview stocked with 30,000 fingerling tiger muskie
2016 • Utah continues to produce & stock its own tiger muskie. – 3,300 fish raised and stocked • An agreement with Nebraska allows Utah to meet and exceed stocking quotas – Today: Pineview stocked with 22,000 fingerling tiger muskie
Looking Ahead • Improvements to LK Hatchery will continue • UT will continue to produce more of its own tiger muskie each year • NE will assist UT in meeting its stocking needs until we reach “ muskie independence”.
Trends in Muskie Mgmt Nationwide Number of muskie anglers growing
What drives potential for trophy fish? 1. Food resources 2. Water temperature 3. Harvest 4. Genetics*
Water temp & growth potential 1958. Journal of Marine Sciences
Lake size explained 70% of observed variation in ultimate length among lakes
Harvest • Can definitely influence size structure of muskie population • Harvest regulations have been getting more restrictive over time
Harvest regulations by region Western States Regulation Number of states States Notes Minimum length 50" 1 WA Minimum length 48" 1 ND Minimum length 40" 5 UT, ID, SD, NE, NM Minimum length 36" 1 CO Minimum length 30" 1 WY Just started muskie Catch & release only 1 OR program
Harvest regulations by region Midwestern States Regulation Number of states States Notes Minimum length 54" 1 MN Minimum length 50" - WI 3% of muskie waters Minimum length 45" - WI Minimum length 42" 1 MI Harvest tag required Minimum length 40" 2 IA, WI Minimum length 36" 3 IN, IL, MO Minimum length 28" - WI 3% muskie waters Catch & release only - WI No size restriction 1 OH
Harvest Regulations by region Eastern States Regulation Number of states States Notes Minimum length 40" 2 PA, NY Minimum length 36" 2 TN, MD Minimum length 30" 1 KY Catch & release only 1 VT Artificial lures only
Summary of 2015 Survey • 40% of respondents target tiger muskie – 48% would not harvest a muskie – 47% would harvest (most preferred fish >36” long) • No consensus on trophy length – 40” vs. 45” vs. 50”
DWR Mission Serve the people of Utah as Guardian and Trustee of Utah’s Wildlife Goal: Maintain and expand quality fishing opportunities. Balance the desires of a diverse angling public.
Goal for Tonight Craft or propose a harvest regulation that allows some level of harvest while preserving our trophy muskie fishery
Possible Regulations • Minimum length limits (40”, 45”, 48”) • Maximum length limits (35”, 40”) • Slot limit (36- 48”) • Tag System Suggestions welcome
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