Characteristics of Harvested and Released Fisheries of Northern Trout in Charter Boat Lake Michigan

Abstract

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are a popular fish for recreational fishing as well as consumption. These together, have generated a large industry surrounding the fish. Recently, it was found that there is a 40% mortality rate of hooked lake trout in the Great Lakes. Fisheries officials feared that this elevated rate from the previously presumed 15% may interfere with the state’s Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limit for lake trout. The current lake trout slot limit is a two fish harvest limit between the lengths of 15 inches and 27 inches with one fish over 34 inches, to two fish any size greater than 17 inches. This study was conducted to find if there was differences in weight between harvested and released lake trout aboard charter fishing boats in MM- 3, MM-4, and MM-5 stat district regions of Northern Lake Michigan.