Summary statistics for Mooselookmeguntic Lake Fishing Initiative

June 11-13, 2010

Estimated number of angler trips: 365

Number of anglers interviewed: 220

Estimated number of legal-size salmon caught: 179

Estimated number of legal-size salmon harvested: 120

Percent of legal-size salmon released:

            From 12 to 16 inches: 30%

            Over 16 inches:            43%

Percent of short salmon (<12 inches) in the catch: 67%

Estimated number of brook trout caught: 223

Estimated number of brook trout harvested: 102

Percent of brook trout released:

            From 10 to 12 inches: 74%

            Over 12 inches:            19%

Percent of short brook trout (<12 inches) in the catch: 47%

Summary

v     Our goal of attracting 800-900 angler trips over the 3-day period was not met (365 trips documented).

          However, angler use during the event exceeded that observed during previous surveys conducted since 1998 (144-226 trips) for the same weekend.

v     It was good start, and it’s my recommendation that a similar effort be planned for next year.

v     Our goal of achieving a salmon harvest of about 500 legal-size salmon was not met (120 fish documented),

          but anglers were clearly more willing to harvest slot-size salmon than during recent years, most likely due to the strong emphasis placed by event

         organizers on the importance of harvesting additional fish. For example, release rates of 12 to 16-inch or 14 to 18-inch salmon ranged from

          94% to 99% in 2002, 2003-2004, and 2007; only 30% of these smaller salmon were reportedly released during the event.  

Dave Boucher, Regional Fishery Biologist

6/22/10