Draft New York Sunfish and Crappie Management Plan 2021-2028

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Draft New York Sunfish and Crappie Management Plan 2021 - 2028

Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor | Basil Seggos, Commissioner

Draft New York Sunfish and Crappie Management Plan 2021 - 2028

NYSDEC BOF Report #:

Prepared by: Bureau of Fisheries Division of Fish and Wildlife New York State Department of Environmental Conservation December 31, 2020

Jefferey Loukmas, Warmwater Fisheries Unit Leader Gregory Kozlowski, Inland Fisheries Section Head Stephen S. Hurst, Chief, Bureau of Fisheries Heidi O’Riordan, Region 1 Fisheries Manager Melissa Cohen, Region 2 Fisheries Manager Michael DiSarno, Region 3 Fisheries Biologist Christopher VanMaaren, Region 4 Fisheries Manager Robert Fiorentino, Region 5 Fisheries Manager Jana Lantry, Region 6 Fisheries Manager David Lemon, Region 7 Fisheries Manager Scott Prindle, Region 7 Fisheries Biologist Webster Pearsall, Region 8 Fisheries Manager Michael Clancy, Region 9 Fisheries Manager

Approved by

______Stephen S. Hurst, Chief Bureau of Fisheries

Vision

Sunfish and crappie fisheries will be managed to achieve an optimal balance between conservation and the current views and values of New York anglers for these species. This will include creating a suite of special opportunities for anglers to sustainably catch large fish in suitable waters.

Management Philosophies

Sunfish are widely dispersed in New York and serve both as a gateway species for introducing new people to fishing and as a desirable target for anglers seeking quality table fare. Sunfish will be managed in a sustainable manner to improve population size structure and provide anglers with the opportunity for recreational enjoyment and equitable harvest. Crappie fill a unique panfish niche in New York and will be managed for sustainable populations of preferred size fish for recreational enjoyment and equitable harvest. Where environmental and social conditions are acceptable, both species will be managed to optimize the size structure of populations to produce unique fisheries that offer anglers the chance to catch large size fish.

Scope

Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, and redbreast sunfish) and crappie (black crappie and white crappie) fisheries statewide, including the Great Lakes.

Need

Sunfish and crappie are widespread and abundant throughout New York and are popular with anglers, collectively accounting for approximately 900,000 days fished in 2017 (Duda et al. 2019). These species generally provide harvest-based fisheries, and anglers can have significant impacts on population structure where bag limits are liberal and harvest is intense (Coble 1988, Olson and Cunningham 1989, Parsons and Reed 1998, Beard and Kampa 1999). Despite their widespread prevalence and popularity, sunfish and crappie have received less management attention than other species such as black bass, walleye, and trout. They are rarely the primary focus of fisheries surveys, and there are very few special fishing regulations for these species groups in New York, none of which are specifically designed to improve the size structure of populations. It is incumbent on the NYSDEC Bureau of Fisheries to periodically review harvest regulations and other management strategies for these species groups to ensure that management appropriately addresses and reflects current science and angler views and values.

The statewide sunfish possession limit is 50 per day and has been in place since 1996. This limit was founded largely on the rationale that 50 fish per day should generally provide sustainable and equitable opportunities for harvest. There is, however, concern that the existing daily limit could result in overharvest and lead to less than ideal size structures and lower quality fishing. The use of social media to quickly draw attention to high quality fishing opportunities and the widespread use of electronic fish finders and other devices to improve fishing efficiency have added to that concern. In addition, the daily limit may no longer appropriately represent the current views of New York anglers about sunfish as a recreationally important species (Loukmas 2020a).

The statewide fishing regulations for crappie include a possession limit of 25 per day and a minimum size limit of 9 inches. This minimum size limit allows most crappie to reach at least age-3, the age at which they typically begin to spawn, before being subjected to harvest. There are relatively few high-

use crappie fisheries in New York (Duda et al. 2019), most likely due to the limited number of high- quality fishing opportunities in the state. NYSDEC Fisheries managers have a responsibility to manage crappie fisheries to provide anglers with sustainable quality fishing opportunities. There is a concern that the current harvest regulations don’t adequately provide this, and crappie fisheries could improve with more conservative harvest regulations.

In addition, there are certain waters throughout the state with the potential to provide truly exceptional fishing for large sunfish and crappie if harvest regulations were designed to provide that opportunity. These waters are typically very productive and have fast growing fish that are subject to high harvest rates. More conservative harvest regulations would add the protection necessary to provide sustainable opportunities to catch memorable size fish (≥10-inch sunfish and ≥12-inch crappie; Gablehouse 1984). Creating these special fisheries may enhance the diversity of New York’s sunfish and crappie fisheries, balancing the desires of anglers with the potential of certain waters to provide a special fishing opportunity.

Literature Review

The traditional belief among anglers that sunfish populations can be improved by “thinning them out” (i.e. harvesting large numbers) has been largely disproven, as more conservative harvest regulations have been effective in improving or maintaining sunfish population size structure (Paukert et al. 2002, Jacobson 2005, Rypel 2015). Paukert et al. (2002) evaluated the effects of an 8-inch minimum size limit on bluegill size structure in18 Nebraska lakes and found an overall increase in the proportion of preferred size (≥8 inch) fish, with the highest increases in lakes with the fastest growth and lowest natural mortality. Jacobson (2005) found that reducing the daily limit for sunfish from 30 to 10 in eight small Minnesota lakes resulted in increased male size at maturity and significantly improved population size structure. Rypel (2015) found that a reduction in the sunfish daily limit from 25 to 10 in seven Wisconsin lakes resulted in higher mean lengths averaging 0.8 inches and ranging up to 2 inches.

For crappie, increases in the minimum length limit are likely to be more effective than reductions in the daily limit for improving size structure, particularly where growth is fast and angler harvest is high. Iserman et al. (2002) simulated the effects of 9 inch and 10 inch minimum size limits on Tennessee reservoir crappie populations and found that, while harvest would predictably decline, numbers of 12 inch crappie would increase, with the largest size increases resulting from a 10 inch minimum size in lakes with low natural mortality. Webb and Ott (1991) found that implementation of a 10 inch minimum size limit (from no limit) resulted in a significant increase in preferred size (≥10 inches) crappies in lakes with high harvest rates. They concluded that minimum length limits may moderate or eliminate age class variability that is common in crappie fisheries and help maintain a more stable population of larger crappies. Mosel et al. (2015) simulated the effects of 9 inch, 10 inch and 11 inch minimum size limits and found that these were always predicted to reduce harvest (22–93% reductions) and increase mean length of harvested crappies (0.5 – 2.4 inches) compared with no minimum length limit. The 10 inch and 11 inch minimum length limits were predicted to improve mean lengths of harvested fish by >1 inch.

Angler Opinion

The positive impacts of more conservative harvest regulations can only be realized with angler understanding and support. The potential support for more conservative harvest regulations on sunfish was gauged via an online survey of New York sunfish anglers (Loukmas 2020a). Of the more than 1,400 respondents, 77% thought that an appropriate daily limit for sunfish should be 30 or less, and

57% favored 20 or less, indicating that New York sunfish anglers would generally support a substantial decrease in the statewide daily limit. Also, the large majority (85%) are not motivated to maximize harvest up to the daily limit and many (48%) preferred to harvest larger sunfish (≥ 8 inches). These results suggest that anglers are likely to be open to other management options, such as size limits or reduced daily limits, to maintain or improve sunfish populations in certain waters. Although no formal angler opinion survey of crappie anglers was conducted, NYSDEC Bureau of Fisheries believes that New York crappie anglers hold opinions similar to sunfish angers and would be supportive of more conservative harvest regulations if those changes were likely to provide more sustainable opportunities to catch crappies of desirable size.

Approach

The current science on the impacts of conservative harvest regulations on sunfish populations and the high level of public support for a decrease in the sunfish daily possession limit indicates that consideration of an adjustment to the current management strategy is warranted. Similarly, an increase in the minimum size limit for New York’s crappie fisheries would likely improve population size structure and fishery sustainability. For most of New York’s sunfish and crappie fisheries simple statewide harvest regulations that appropriately reflect current angler values are likely to be the most effective management approach. As such, the statewide daily possession limit should be reduced for sunfish and the minimum size limit should be increased for crappies. For those waters that have the potential to provide special fishing opportunities for large sunfish and crappie, implementation of more conservative harvest regulations would add the protection necessary to sustainably provide these opportunities.

A series of 4 online meetings with Regional Bureau of Fisheries managers (or representative Regional staff) were held from May – July 2020 to discuss panfish management priorities, goals and direction. The current knowledge and status of New York’s panfish fisheries, including angler use, fish population data, and management was reviewed, along with the current science on impacts of harvest restrictions on both crappie and sunfish fisheries. The applicability of statewide regulatory options along with options for the subsequently named Big Panfish Initiative (BPI) waters was discussed. Decisions on the most appropriate options for a statewide crappie regulation and for both species groups in the BPI waters were made. Uncertainty about angler views on the sunfish daily limit led to the development and implementation of an online angler survey to obtain that information (Loukmas 2020a). The decision on a statewide harvest regulation adjustment was made based, in part, on the results of that survey (see Angler Opinion section above). A sunfish and crappie trap netting protocol was also developed to standardize evaluation of the BPI and statewide regulations (Loukmas 2020b). The intent is to have both the statewide and BPI regulations in place by January 1, 2022.

Objective 1: Statewide Sunfish Management

Provide sustainable angling opportunities for sunfish throughout the state.

Strategy 1: Adjust sunfish statewide harvest regulations

Action: Implement a statewide possession limit of 25 fish per day.  This reduction in the daily limit more appropriately reflects New York angler views about sunfish fisheries and will help reduce population impacts due to overharvest in some situations.

Evaluation: A combination of angler surveys and fish population surveys will be employed to evaluate the potential impacts of the reduced daily limit.  Angler satisfaction will be the primary measure of success and will be gauged via online surveys using Alchemer®. Success will be achieved if at least 66% of survey respondents are satisfied with this management approach.  Evaluation of statewide regulation changes on sunfish populations will occur opportunistically as part of management plans for “Destination Fisheries” or “Regionally Significant Fisheries” program waters, where sunfish are considered an important component of the fishery. o Where feasible and practical, the standard sunfish and crappie trap netting protocol will be followed to collect fish population data (Loukmas 2020b) on some of New York’s more highly used waters. This will allow for standardized checks on size and age structures, and direct comparisons with BPI program waters (see Objective 3) to gauge the relative differences in regulation impacts.

Objective 2: Statewide Crappie Management

Provide sustainable angling opportunities for preferred size crappies (≥10 inches) throughout the state.

Strategy 1: Adjust statewide crappie harvest regulations

Action: Implement a statewide minimum size limit of 10 inches and maintain a possession limit of 25 fish per day.  The increase in the minimum size limit is expected to improve population size structure, provides the potential for one additional year of spawning, and should help stabilize year class variability that is typical in crappie populations.

Evaluation: A combination of angler surveys and fish population surveys will be employed to evaluate the potential impacts of the increased minimum size limit.  Angler satisfaction will be the primary measure of success and will be gauged via online surveys using Alchemer®. Success will be achieved if at least 66% of survey respondents are satisfied with this management approach.  Evaluation of statewide regulation changes on crappie populations will opportunistically occur as part of management plans for “Destination Fisheries” or “Regionally Significant Fisheries” program waters, where crappie are considered an important component of the fishery. o Where feasible and practical, the standard sunfish and crappie trap netting protocol will be followed to collect fish population data (Loukmas 2020b) on some of New York’s more highly used waters. This will allow for standardized checks on size and age structures, and direct comparisons with BPI program waters (see Objective 3) to gauge the relative differences in regulation impacts.

Objective 3: Big Panfish Initiative (BPI)

Establish sustainable fishing opportunities for memorable size sunfish (≥10 inches) and crappie (≥12 inches) in select lakes using the following population metric goals1:

 Sunfish: 70 PSD, 30 RSD8, 5 RSD10, 7” at age-5, 40% of the stock population ≥ age-5, 100 Wr  Crappie: 70 PSD, 30 RSD10, 5 RSD12, 10” at age-4, 30% of the stock population ≥ age-4, 100 Wr

Strategy 1: Identify lakes with the potential to provide opportunities for anglers to catch memorable size sunfish and crappie.

Action: Select lakes based on productivity, fast growth, high angler use, and regional knowledge of the waterbody and fishery.  Select 15 lakes for initial inclusion in this program: 6 for sunfish, 4 for crappie, and 5 for both (Figure 1, Appendix A).  Choose at least one lake from every Region, except Region 2 where catch and release fishing regulations for all species preclude inclusion in this program.

Strategy 2: Implement special fishing regulations designed to maintain or increase the proportion of memorable size sunfish and crappie in selected waters.

Action A: Implement special sunfish fishing regulations that include an 8-inch minimum size limit and a daily possession limit of 15.

Action B: Implement special crappie fishing regulations that include a 12-inch minimum size limit and a daily possession limit of 10.

Evaluation: BPI program evaluation will be conducted through a combination of angler survey and fish population survey measures (see Timeline for sampling schedule). The success of this program will be based on both angler satisfaction and the fish population metric objectives listed above.  Angler satisfaction will be gauged via online surveys using Alchemer®. The angler satisfaction component of this program will be achieved if at least 66% of survey respondents are satisfied with this management approach.  Standard sunfish and crappie trap netting protocols (Loukmas 2020b) will be followed to collect the data necessary to assess BPI fish population metric objectives for selected waters.

1 These metrics were selected because they represent size structures, growth and condition indicative of populations that should provide quality fishing opportunities for large fish. Size structure and growth criteria are similar to those used for quality bluegill and crappie management waters in Minnesota (Weitzel 2013). Proportional stock density (PSD) and Relative Stock Density (RSD) are size structure indices that provide the percentage of "stock-length" fish that are also equal to or longer than a specified length (Anderson 1980). Relative weight (Wr) is an index of fish condition and compares the observed weight of a fish with a standard weight for a fish of the same length. Additional information on these indices can be found in the Black Bass and Sunfish Electrofishing Protocol for Lakes and Ponds (Brooking et al. 2018).

Strategy 3: Determine if standard American Fisheries Society fyke nets (Bonar et al. 2009) can be used as a viable substitute for Oneida Lake trap nets (Forney et al. 1994) for standard sampling of sunfish and crappie populations for BPI program evaluation (Loukmas 2020b).

Action: Select and concurrently sample a subset of BPI program waters with both gears to determine if there are differences in the size structures and numbers of captured sunfish and crappie between gears.  Waters where the fyke net comparisons will be conducted include Blydenburgh Lake, Muscoot Reservoir, Saratoga Lake and Honeoye Lake.  Three trap net and fyke net pairs will be set and checked for 3 consecutive nights (9 trap net nights for each net type).  Nets in each pair will be set 50 – 100 feet apart, depending on site characteristics.  All other aspects of sampling, including data collection and analysis, will be consistent with the standard sunfish and crappie trap netting protocol (Loukmas 2020b).

Evaluation: Compare size and age structures2 between net types on each waterbody to determine if there are differences in these metrics.  A determination on the viability and future use of fyke nets for this program will be made based on a comprehensive comparative review of size and age structures and feedback from Regional staff about the relative merits (effectiveness and ease of use) of each gear type.

Timeline

April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021

 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for BPI and statewide changes posted on DEC website 1/2/21  Assessment of public comment on Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for BPI and statewide changes 2/20/21

April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022

 Sampling of BPI waters to obtain baseline data necessary to evaluate effect of regulations on fish population status 4/1/21 – 6/30/21  NPR filed with Department of State by 6/29/21  NOA filed with Department of State by 10/31/21  Regulations take effect 1/1/22  BPI technical briefs due from Regions (including net comparison assessments) 1/30/22  Complete baseline report on BPI program 3/31/22  Promote BPI program waters (NYSDEC Fishing Line newsletter, social media and website)

April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023  Promote BPI program waters (NYSDEC Fishing Line newsletter, social media and website)

April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024

2 Size structure metrics include PSD, RSDp, and RSDm; age structure metrics include length at age and proportions of age 4 (crappie) and age 5 (sunfish) in the stock-size population.

 Promote BPI program waters (NYSDEC Fishing Line newsletter, social media and website)

April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025  Conduct initial assessment of BPI program by conducting standard trap netting surveys to evaluate fish population changes and collecting angler information via online surveys to determine their satisfaction 4/1/24 – 7/1/24  Conduct initial angler surveys to evaluate statewide sunfish and crappie regulations 7/24  Angler survey technical briefs due from the Warmwater Fisheries Unit Leader 10/1/24  BPI technical briefs due from Regions 1/30/25  Complete interim BPI program assessment report 3/31/25

April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028  Evaluation of BPI program, including a repeat of the 2024 standard fish population and angler information surveys 4/1/27 – 7/1/27  Conduct final angler surveys to evaluate statewide sunfish and crappie regulations 7/27  Angler survey technical briefs due from the Warmwater Fisheries Unit Leader 10/1/27  BPI technical briefs due from Regions 1/30/28  Complete final BPI program assessment report 3/31/28

Figure 1. Locations of Big Panfish Initiative lakes.

Literature Cited

Anderson, R. O. 1980. Proportional stock density (PSD) and relative weight (Wr): interpretive indices for fish populations and communities. Pages 27-33 in S. Gloss and B. Shupp, editors. Practical fisheries management: more with less in the 1980's. Workshop proceedings, New York chapter, American Fisheries Society, Ithaca, New York, USA.

Beard, T. D., Jr. and J. M. Kampa. 1999. Changes in Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch Populations in Wisconsin during 1967-1991. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 19:4, 1037-1043.

Bonar, S. A., W. A. Hubert, and D. W. Willis. 2009. Standard Methods for Sampling North American Freshwater Fishes. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.

Brooking, T., Loukmas, J., Jackson, R., VanDeValk, T. 2018. Black bass and sunfish electrofishing protocol for lakes and ponds. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration, F-63-R, Study 2, Job 2-2.3, Albany, New York.

Coble, D. W. 1988. Effects of angling on Bluegill populations: management implications. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 8:277–283.

Duda, M. D., M. Jones, T. Beppler, S. J. Bissell, A. Center, A. Criscione, P. Doherty, G. L. Hughes, C. Gerken, A. Lanier. 2019. New York angler effort and expenditures in 2017: Report 1 of 4. Report for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish and Wildlife by Responsive Management. Harrisonburg, Virginia

Forney, J. L., G. Rudstam, D. M. Green and D. L. Stang. 1994. Percid Sampling Manual. Chapter 3 in Fish Sampling Manual. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.

Gablehouse, D. W. 1984. A length-categorization system to assess fish stocks. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 4:273-285.

Isermann, D.A., S.M. Sammons, P.W. Bettoli, and T.N. Churchill. 2002. Predictive evaluation of size restrictions as management strategies for Tennessee reservoir crappie fisheries. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 22:1349-1357.

Jacobson, P. C. 2005. Experimental Analysis of a Reduced Daily Bag Limit in Minnesota. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25:203-210.

Loukmas, J. 2020a. New York sunfish angler survey. Report number #. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Fisheries, Albany, New York.

Loukmas, J. 2020b. New York sunfish and crappie trap netting protocol. Report number #. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Fisheries, Albany, New York.

Mosel, K. J., D. A. Isermann, and J. F. Hansen. 2015. Evaluation of daily creel and minimum length limits for black crappie and yellow perch in Wisconsin. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 35:1-13.

Olson, D. E., and P. K. Cunningham. 1989. Sport-fisheries trends shown by an annual Minnesota fishing contest over a 58-year period. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 9:287- 297. Parsons, B. G. M., and J. R. Reed. 1998. Angler exploitation of bluegill and black crappie in four west- central Minnesota lakes. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Section of Fisheries Investigational Report 468.

Paukert, C. P., D. W. Willis, and D. W. Gablehouse, Jr. 2002. Effect and acceptance of bluegill length limits in Nebraska natural lakes. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 22:1306- 1313.

Rypel, A. 2015. Effects of a reduced daily limit on bluegill size structure in Wisconsin lakes. North American Journal Fisheries management.

Webb, M. A. and R. A. Ott. 1991. Effects of Length and Bag Limits on Population Structure and Harvest of White Crappies in Three Texas Reservoirs. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 11:614-622.

Weitzel, D. L. 2013. Status Review and Management Outline for Quality Bluegill and Black Crappie Populations in the Grand Rapids Area. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Appendix A. List of waters selected for the Big Panfish Initiative, with notes on program criteria and rationale for program selection.

High Large Fast Waterbody Species Region Acres Productive Notes/Rationale use fish growth

Blydenburgh Lake has an undeveloped shoreline within a county sunfish park, is a Regionally significant fishery, and is historically known Blydenburgh Lake and 1 111 y y unk. y for good panfish fishing. Large crappie were collected during a crappie recent survey (2017) and there is potential for sunfish size structure improvement.

Lake Welch is a productive lake in Harriman State Park. Large sunfish up to 9.3 inches were collected during a 2019 Bass and Lake Welch sunfish 3 205 unk y avg. Y Sunfish survey. Angler use is unknown, but sunfish are likely harvested at least occasionally by park patrons.

Muscoot Reservoir is a part of the New York City watershed system and is accessible via a permit from the City. There are Muscoot Reservoir crappie 3 1,263 y y unk. y large crappies caught during regional fishing derbies every year. The Region receives reports of high angler pressure for crappie, especially during spring. Crappie population data is needed.

Canadarago Lake is productive, popular lake in Otsego County that well-known as a good panfish fishery, traditionally for yellow Canadarago Lake sunfish 4 1,917 y y y y perch. Sunfish do well here and are targeted mainly through the ice. A 2017 Centrarchid survey documented a good number of quality and preferred size bluegills and pumpkinseeds.

Goodyear Lake is a productive reservoir in the upper Susquehanna River with a popular sunfish fishery. A special sunfish regulation of 25/day is in place due to concerns about Goodyear Lake sunfish 4 235 y n y y overharvest. Sunfish tend to be somewhat small, but because the reservoir is productive growth is likely to be fast (data are lacking). An 8" minimum size limit will help to improve size structure.

Saratoga Lake is the 15th most fished waterbody in New York sunfish and is one of the most popular lakes in the state for both Saratoga Lake and 5 4,339 y y n y crappies and sunfish. To maintain the high-quality sunfish fishery crappie a special regulation 15/day is in place. Large sunfish are abundant (mean lengths >7 inches for bluegills, pumpkinseeds

and redbreast sunfish from a 2015 Centrachid survey). No recent targeted crappie sampling has occurred and data are lacking.

Sixtown Pond is a productive eutrophic lake in Jefferson County that is accessible via a DEC hand launch. Surveys include two General Biological Surveys (1992 and 2013) with trapnetting and Sixtown Pond sunfish 6 169 y y unk. y electroshocking. Both surveys indicated good numbers of bluegill and pumpkinseed >8”. This water is used by commercial fisherman – but – so are many others in R6.

Red Lake, one of the Indian River Lakes, is 366 acres and has a DEC beach launch. It is the Indian River Lake known to have Red Lake sunfish 6 366 unk. y unk. y larger sunfish which is consistent with data collected during Percid Sampling.

Delta Lake is a productive reservoir with a concrete ramp at Delta Lake State Park. Surveys indicate a population of black crappie and to a lesser extent white crappie that can reach sizes of >14”. There is an ice fishery for crappie. A concern is that Delta Lake crappie 6 2,289 y y y y crappie use some of the small ponded areas in Delta Lake State Park to spawn and current water level procedures by NYS Canals lowers the water in these ponded areas in late fall/early winter which results in killing a large number of fish including young of year crappie.

Cazenovia Lake is a productive, mesotrophic lake in Madison County that was historically a popular destination for crappies. Is a high use water, with a lot of evening and night fishing and ice fishing for crappies. A 2012 gill net survey found good numbers sunfish of crappies 10 inches and larger (up to 13 inches) with fast Cazenovia Lake and 7 1,164 y y y y growth. crappie A 2012 centrarchid survey found abundant populations of bluegills and pumpkinseeds, with a high percentage of large fish (RSD8 > 45) for both species. Growth was typically fast for both species.

Otisco Lake is one of the most popular sunfish and crappie sunfish fisheries in the state (Duda et al. 2019). Bluegill are abundant, Otisco Lake and 7 2,200 y y avg. y but there were few over 8 inches in a 2014 survey. Growth was crappie average, thus high angler harvest of larger fish was the likely cause of the lack of large fish. Otisco Lake supports both white crappie and black crappie populations. Good numbers of 10 inch

or more crappie were caught in the 2014 survey. Growth was average for both species.

Waneta and Lamoka lakes support popular crappie fisheries. Waneta/Lamoka lakes crappie 8 1,401 y y y y These are highly productive lakes and crappie are abundant. Crappie >12 inches are in both lakes and growth is fast.

Honeoye Lake is one of New York’s best waters for both sunfish sunfish and crappie. A top ten water for angler effort for both species Honeoye Lake and 8 1,670 y y y y groups (Duda et al. 2019). Highly productive, with good numbers crappie of large fish and fast growth for both species groups.

Silver Lake is highly productive with abundant bluegill and Silver Lake sunfish 9 836 y y unk. y pumpkinseed populations, with good numbers of large fish. The sunfish fishery is popular, especially during ice fishing season.

Bear Lake supports an abundant population of crappies, with good numbers of large fish. This relatively small water has good Bear Lake crappie 9 114 y y y y public access and is considered to have the best potential for this program in R9.