NYS DEC LAKE ERIE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT to the Lake Erie Committee and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission March 2021 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4753 Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor MOST OF THE WORK REPORTED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS SUPPORTED BY THE FEDERAL AID IN SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM Full Report Citation: NYSDEC 2021. Lake Erie 2020 Annual Report. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, New York, USA. Example Report Section Citation: Markham, J.L. 2021. Coldwater gill net assessment. Section F in NYSDEC 2021, Lake Erie 2020 Annual Report. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, New York, USA. NYS DEC LAKE ERIE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s Lake Erie Committee NYSDEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit e-mail: [email protected] Jason Robinson, Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit Leader James Markham, Aquatic Biologist Pascal Wilkins, Aquatic Biologist Michael Cochrane, Research Vessel Captain Richard Zimar, Fisheries Technician MariEllen (Ginger) Szwejbka, Secretary Steven LaPan, Great Lakes Fisheries Section Head (Retired) Steven Hurst, Chief, Bureau of Fisheries Acknowledgements The Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit recognizes the contributions of seasonal staff essential to completing an ambitious field schedule. During the 2020 field year these individuals included Fish and Wildlife Technicians Kevin Smith, Trista Daley, and Benjamin Szczygiel. We also acknowledge contributions of DEC’s Region 9 Fisheries Office, Buffalo State College’s Great Lakes Center, SUNY Fredonia, Cornell University, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center, and the USFWS Northeast Fisheries Center in support of various Lake Erie field activities. The Unit would also like to recognize the contributions of our Great Lakes Fisheries Section Head Steve LaPan, retired in 2020, to the Unit and to management of the fishery resources in both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. March 2021 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4753 Preface The Lake Erie Annual Report is prepared by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a compilation of ongoing Lake Erie investigations mostly supported by Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration. This annual report is intended as a resource document for other member agencies of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s Lake Erie Committee, as well as information for Lake Erie’s angling community and other interested stakeholders. Many initiatives reported under this cover are long term monitoring efforts which are updated each year. Other efforts may not always be updated annually if there were no new activities since the previous report. In 2020, the Lower Trophic Level Monitoring Program was not completed due to Covid-19 issues and will not be included in this report. However, protocols were able to be developed and all other long-term monitoring programs were able to be completed in a safe manner following New York State and NYS DEC policies. The summaries contained in this report are provisional although every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy. We strongly encourage researchers to contact NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit before using or citing any specific data summary contained in this report. TABLE OF CONTENTS Lake Erie 2020 Annual Report New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Presented at the Lake Erie Committee Meeting March 26, 2021 SECTION TITLE A PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS B RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS AND WRITTEN CONTRIBUTIONS (J.M. Robinson) C FORAGE AND JUVENILE YELLOW PERCH SURVEY (J.L. Markham and P.D. Wilkins) D WARMWATER GILL NET ASSESSMENT (P.D. Wilkins) E COMMERCIAL FISHERY ASSESSMENT (P.D. Wilkins) F COLDWATER GILL NET ASSESSMENT (J.L. Markham) G SEA LAMPREY ASSESSMENT (J.L. Markham) H SALMONINE STOCKING SUMMARY (J.L. Markham and M.T. Todd) I OPEN LAKE SPORT FISHING SURVEY (P.D. Wilkins) APPENDIX I COMMON AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF FISH NYSDEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit 2020 Program Highlights The New York State Smallmouth Bass Department of Environmental Lake Erie supports New York’s, and perhaps the country’s, finest Conservation’s Lake Erie smallmouth bass fishery. Bass fishing quality in 2020 was below Fisheries Research Unit average for the 33-year survey. Generally stable spawning success (LEFRU) is responsible for coupled with very high growth rates produce relatively high angler research, assessment and catch rates and frequent encounters with trophy-sized fish. Over the fisheries management past 33 years increasing preference for catch-and-release angling activities for one of New has drastically reduced harvest of smallmouth to only 2% of the York’s largest and most overall catch. Since 2000 overall abundance has declined. Recent diverse freshwater fishery data indicate relatively stable adult abundance (age 3+) over the last resources. Our annual monitoring programs are designed to improve decade with an increase in older bass over the last five years. our understanding of the Lake Erie fish community, guide fisheries Juvenile abundance measures from 2020 suggest 2018 was a below management, and safeguard this valuable resource for current and average bass year class. future generations. This document shares just a few of the highlights from the 2020 program year. Our complete annual report is available Gill Net Catches of Smallmouth Bass on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/32286.html, or by 50 contacting DEC’s LEFRU office (contact information below). Age 8 + 40 Age 3 to 7 Tributary Angler Survey Age 1 & 2 New York’s Lake Erie tributaries consistently produce some of the highest quality fishing for steelhead in the nation. The tributary angler 30 survey is conducted on a three-year cycle to monitor fishery performance and determine progress towards goals stated in the 20 Steelhead Management Plan. The average steelhead catch rate from Catch per Net the most recent 2017-18 survey indicated excellent fishing quality (0.56 fish/hr.) and represented a significant improvement compared 10 to the 2011-12 and 2014-15 surveys. 0 Walleye 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 Lake Erie’s eastern basin walleye resource is comprised of adult walleye from local spawning stocks and substantial contributions of adult migrants from west basin spawning stocks. Walleye fishing Yellow Perch quality in New York waters has been at record levels for the past four Lake Erie yellow perch populations have experienced wide years with 2018 representing the highest catch rate in the 33-year oscillations in abundance over the last 30 years, from extreme lows survey. Recent increases in fishing quality are largely attributable to in the mid-1990’s to an extended recovery that has now lasted almost east basin spawning success over the past decade, and the recent two decades. Poor recruitment in 2011-2013 resulted in a declining western basin walleye spawning success. Juvenile walleye surveys adult population and angler catch rates with a 12-year low occurring indicate exceptional local spawning success in 2016 and 2017 and a in 2016. Perch fishing quality began to increase in 2017 and 2018 due potentially unprecedented level of west basin spawning success in to the strong 2015 cohort but returned to the long-term average in 2018 and 2019. Overall good recruitment through recent years 2020. Weak to moderate recruitment in 2017 and 2018, coupled with suggests adult walleye abundance and fishing quality in the east an aging 2015 year class, should support average to slightly below basin will remain high for the several years. average fishing quality in 2021. Juvenile abundance measures from 2020 suggest 2019 was an above average yellow perch year class. Age-1 Walleye Index 25 Gill Net Catches of Yellow Perch 350 20 300 250 15 200 10 150 Catch per Net 5 Catch per Net 100 0 50 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 0 Year Class 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit 178 Point Drive North Dunkirk, NY 14048-1031 (716) 366-0228 Lake Trout Restoration Salmonid Management Re-establishing a self-sustaining lake trout population in Lake Erie New York annually stocks approximately 127,500 steelhead and continues to be a major goal of Lake Erie’s coldwater program. Lake 50,000 domestic rainbow trout into Lake Erie and its tributaries to trout have been stocked since 1978 and annual assessments monitor provide recreational angling opportunities. Wild reproduction of progress towards lake trout rehabilitation plan restoration objectives. steelhead also occurs in some tributaries but remains a minor The overall index of abundance of lake trout in the New York waters contributor to the fishery. Steelhead stocking was slightly above target of Lake Erie has remained relatively stable for the past five years but in 2020 while domestic rainbow stocking was slightly below target. It below the plan objective of 8.0 fish/lift. Adult lake trout (age 5+) should be noted that stocking targets for steelhead declined 50% in abundance increased in 2020 and remains high relative to the entire 2020 to accommodate an experimental approach at New York’s time series; older fish (age 10+) are increasing in abundance. Natural Salmon River Hatchery to improve overall size of stocked steelhead. reproduction has not yet been detected in Lake Erie. Significant Initial results indicated significant increases in both size and weight, stocking and sea lamprey control efforts must be continued to build and resulted in a more consistent stocking product. Further and maintain the adult population necessary to support natural experimentation and evaluation are expected over the next two years. reproduction. An acoustic telemetry study that began in 2016 is A year-round angler survey was completed in the Upper Cattaraugus providing valuable information on movements and spawning locations Creek system in 2020, providing baseline estimates of effort, catch, used by stocked lake trout during the fall and will guide future and harvest for this area following fish passage at the Springville restoration efforts.