Summer Sport Fishery on the Peace River, Alberta, 2013
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Summer Sport Fishery on the Peace River, Alberta, 2013 The Alberta Conservation Association is a Delegated Administrative Organization under Alberta’s Wildlife Act. 25% Post Consumer Fibre When separated, both the binding and paper in this document are recyclable Summer Sport Fishery on the Peace River, Alberta, 2013 Melissa Buskas and William Patterson Alberta Conservation Association 101 – 9 Chippewa Road Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8A 6J7 Report Editors PETER AKU KELLEY KISSNER Alberta Conservation Association 50 Tuscany Meadows Cr. NW 101 – 9 Chippewa Rd Calgary, AB T3L 2T9 Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6J7 Conservation Report Series Type Data ISBN printed: 978‐1‐4601‐1694‐4 ISBN online: 978‐1‐4601‐1695‐1 Disclaimer: This document is an independent report prepared by Alberta Conservation Association. The authors are solely responsible for the interpretations of data and statements made within this report. Reproduction and Availability: This report and its contents may be reproduced in whole, or in part, provided that this title page is included with such reproduction and/or appropriate acknowledgements are provided to the authors and sponsors of this project. Suggested Citation: Buskas, M., and W. Patterson. 2014. Summer sport fishery on the Peace River, Alberta, 2013. Data Report, D‐2014‐003, produced by Alberta Conservation Association, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. 10 pp + App. Cover photo credit: David Fairless Digital copies of conservation reports can be obtained from: Alberta Conservation Association 101 – 9 Chippewa Rd Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6J7 Toll Free: 1‐877‐969‐9091 Tel: (780) 410‐1998 Fax: (780) 464‐0990 Email: info@ab‐conservation.com Website: www.ab‐conservation.com i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The portion of the Peace River located in northwest Alberta is categorized as a cool‐water fishery that supports sport fish species such as walleye (Sander vitreus), northern pike (Esox lucius), goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) and burbot (Lota lota), with angling typically concentrated at the mouths of tributaries flowing into the mainstem. However, little is known about recreational angling pressure along this portion of the river. In this project, we conducted a creel survey along a section of the river around the town of Peace River to generate data on angler effort and catch rates that would aid Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development to review current sport fishing regulations and other management practices. From June 3 to September 25, 2013, we interviewed anglers at two locations: 1) in the town of Peace River (Heart River/Pat’s Creek confluences) and 2) at the Whitemud River confluence. To determine a ratio‐of‐use along the survey section, angler counts were conducted by boat. At the Heart River/Pat’s Creek survey site, we surveyed 17% of the available strata and interviewed 103 anglers that fished for 211.5 h. Anglers reported catching 0.09 walleye/h, 0.02 northern pike/h, 0.04 goldeye/h and 0.10 burbot/h, with an estimated angling effort of 1,167 h (95% CI = 923 – 1,422). At the Whitemud River survey site, we surveyed 17% of the available strata and interviewed 56 anglers that fished for 114.25 h. Anglers reported catching 0.67 walleye/h, 0.08 northern pike/h, 0.02 goldeye/h and 0.07 burbot/h, with an estimated angling effort of 697 h (95% CI = 406 – 993). Based on 16 ratio‐of‐use surveys, 53% (95% CI = 42 – 64, n = 72) of anglers on the Peace River between the confluences of the Smoky and Cadotte rivers fished at one of the two survey sites; the remaining 47% fished at alternate sites. Along the survey area, the total angling effort was 3,575 h (95% CI = 2,602 – 4,821), with an angling pressure of 1.0 h/ha (95% CI = 0.8 – 1.4). Anglers harvested 284 walleye (95% CI = 78 – 520) for a total yield (harvest + release mortality) of 301.8 kg (95% CI = 108.1 – 525.2) or 0.08 kg/ha (95% CI = 0.03 – 0.15). Length distribution of sport‐harvested walleye ranged from 438 to 496 mm total length (TL), with a mean (± SE) length of 469 ± 3 mm TL (n = 17). The length distribution of test‐angled walleye ranged from 320 to 576 mm TL, with a mean length of 433 ± 6 mm TL (n = 67). The age distribution of sport‐harvested walleye ii ranged from 5 to 19 y, with a mean age of 10 ± 1 y (n = 17). The age distribution of test‐angled walleye ranged from 3 to 21 y, with a mean age of 7 ± 1 y (n = 54). Samples of northern pike, goldeye and burbot were too small to analyze. Key words: Peace River, creel survey, walleye, ratio‐of‐use, sport fish. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding was provided by Alberta Conservation Association (ACA). We thank Canada Summer Jobs for financial support of seasonal staff. Thank you to the seasonal staff, Aaron Androsoff and Nikita Robinson, for conducting the creel surveys and representing ACA in a professional manner. Thank you Paul Hvenegaard, Dave Jackson, Robb Stavne, Lenore Stone and Ken Wright for your contribution to the survey. Thank you Roadrunner Leasing and Sales Ltd. for volunteering your time and boat. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. v LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF APPENDICES .......................................................................................................... viii 1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 2.0 STUDY AREA ................................................................................................................ 1 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................................................................... 3 3.1 Creel survey ................................................................................................................. 3 3.2 Ratio‐of‐use surveys ................................................................................................... 3 3.3 Biological fish data ...................................................................................................... 4 3.4 Test‐angling ................................................................................................................. 5 3.5 Data management ....................................................................................................... 5 4.0 RESULTS ......................................................................................................................... 6 4.1 Heart River/Pat’s Creek survey site .......................................................................... 6 4.2 Whitemud River access point .................................................................................... 6 4.3 Whole Peace River survey area ................................................................................. 7 5.0 LITERATURE CITED .................................................................................................. 10 6.0 APPENDICES .............................................................................................................. 11 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of Peace River, Alberta, showing the location of the survey area and survey sites. ............................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2. Length distribution of walleye caught during sport‐harvest and test‐ angling, Peace River, 2013. .................................................................................... 9 Figure 3. Age distribution of walleye caught during sport‐harvest and test‐angling, Peace River, 2013. ................................................................................................... 9 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Number of strata available and surveyed at the Heart River/Pat’s Creek and Whitemud River survey sites on the Peace River, 2013. ................................... 3 vii LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1. Creel survey form, Heart River/Pat’s Creek and Whitemud River, Peace River, 2013. ....................................................................................... 11 Appendix 2. Biological data collected from sport‐harvested fish during the creel survey, Peace River, 2013. ......................................................................... 12 Appendix 3. Creel data collected at Heart River/Pat’s Creek, Peace River, 2013. ... 13 Appendix 4. Creel data collected at Whitemud River, Peace River, 2013. ................ 15 Appendix 5. Biological data collected from test‐angling, Peace River, 2013. ........... 17 Appendix 6. Flow chart outlining the process used to calculate the survey area estimate, Peace River, 2013. ...................................................................... 20 Appendix 7. Ratio‐of‐use angler data collected within the survey area, Peace River, 2013. .............................................................................................................. 21 viii 1.0 INTRODUCTION The portion of the Peace River located in northwest Alberta is categorized as a cool‐water fishery that supports sport fish