Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
A COOLER of lake trout was later measured at the Saxon Harbor Boating Club's annual spring fishing contest on Lake Superior. A July 11 storm destroyed the harbor and closed the boat landings.
By RALPH ANSAMI
SAXON, Wis. - A public meeting on the next steps to help recover lake trout populations in Lake Superior is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Saxon Community Center.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will also hold a meeting at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
A controversial emergency rule that expired Sept. 30 limited Saxon Harbor area fishermen to a daily bag limit of three lakers - two fish between 20 and 25 inches and one fish greater than 40 inches.
That limit meant if a recreational angler would catch three fish of 19 inches, for example, he or she couldn't keep any.
For other Lake Superior waters west of Bark Point, the three-fish daily bag limit included a 15-inch minimum size limit, with only one fish greater than 25 inches.
Trolling out of Saxon Harbor ended on July 11 when a storm wiped out the harbor, causing damages estimated at $10 million or more. The boat landings have not been open at the harbor since the storm and large trees and debris remain in the lake near the harbor.
Repairs could take years.
The public meetings next week will cover regulation options developed by DNR fisheries biologists to help lake trout numbers recover.
Terry Margenau, WDNR Lake Superior fisheries supervisor, said population assessments over the last six to eight years indicate the decline in lake trout abundance is largely because of overharvesting.
Lake trout often live more than 40 years and don't reach sexual maturity until they are 8 to 10 years old. "As a result, the lake trout stock must be carefully managed to address the needs of many stakeholders, including commercial fishers, sport anglers and a host of associated businesses that all depend on a strong lake trout fishery in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior," Margenau said.
"The upcoming public meetings will offer opportunities to discuss a new round of options and provide fisheries managers with information needed to move forward," Margenau said.
A new emergency rule will cover the recreational lake trout open season that runs from Dec. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2017.
The meetings will run from 6 to 8 p.m.
In addition to receiving comments, the DNR will gather input through an online survey that will be announced with a deadline of Nov. 10. Citizens also may provide feedback by mailing: Terry L. Margenau, Lake Superior fisheries supervisor, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 589, 141 S. Third St., Bayfield, WI 54814; or email [email protected].
