Trends in a northern Wisconsin muskellunge fishery: results from a countywide angling contest, 1964–2010

Gilbert, Stephen J.; Sass, Greg G.

doi:10.1111/fme.12170

Cited by 26 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Voluntary catch-and-release angling for many sport fishes (e.g., Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides, Muskellunge Esox masquinongy) has also increased in popularity over time (Allen et al 2008;Hansen et al 2015;Gilbert and Sass 2016). At the same time, abundance increases in fish populations due to catch-and-release preferences can also have undesirable outcomes due to densitydependent effects on fish growth (Hansen et al 2015;Gilbert and Sass 2016). Conversely, because catch-and-release angling has been effective at conserving and improving the density and size structure of certain fish populations, this angler behavior has been promoted as a solution on its own rather than focusing on habitats (Allen et al 2008;Gaeta et al 2011;Rypel et al 2016).…”

Section: Fishing Has a Voluntary Catch-and-release Option; Hunting Domentioning

confidence: 99%

Inland Fisheries Habitat Management: Lessons Learned from Wildlife Ecology and a Proposal for Change

2017

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The habitat concept in inland fisheries has been less studied than wildlife ecology. Since 1950, the cumulative number of publications about “freshwater or inland habitat and fisheries management” has been 60%–95% less than those considering “habitat and wildlife management.” The number of publications about “marine, river, and stream habitat and fisheries management” has also generally exceeded those for “lake habitat and fisheries management.” We provide a perspective comparing inland fish and wildlife habitat management systems and highlight lessons from wildlife ecology that could benefit inland fisheries. We reason that wildlife habitat management has become widespread and accepted because humans share habitats with wildlife and positive/negative responses to habitat restorations/loss are directly observable. We recommend that inland fisheries habitat studies and restorations include opportunities for humans to directly observe the ecological benefits of such practices. To support aquatic habitat management efforts, we suggest that dedicated funding solutions be considered to mitigate aquatic habitat loss. In theory, such a system would provide benefits to inland fish populations that parallel those provided to wildlife through state and federal stamps. Although aquatic habitat conservation and restoration may not solve management issues as rapidly, it will promote long‐term sustainability and resiliency of diverse inland fish populations.

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Section: Fishing Has a Voluntary Catch-and-release Option; Hunting Domentioning

confidence: 99%

Inland Fisheries Habitat Management: Lessons Learned from Wildlife Ecology and a Proposal for Change

2017

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“…Stocking and its potential influence on muskellunge abundance was not addressed in our study. Artificial inflation of muskellunge abundance through stocking has the potential to result in density‐dependent constraints on muskellunge growth (Eslinger et al, ; Gilbert & Sass, ). The vast majority of muskellunge lakes in the CTWI are supplemented by stocking regardless of whether the population is naturally reproducing or not, therefore we reasoned that stocking and density‐dependent constraints on growth were not likely major factors influencing our results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We reasoned that these recreational angler harvest regulations had a negligible effect on muskellunge population size structure and maximum size because very few muskellunge are harvested by anglers (Eslinger et al, ; Gaeta, Beardmore, Latzka, Provencher, & Carpenter, ; Gilbert & Sass, ; Shaw et al, ) and hooking mortality has been shown to be low (~0%–5%; Landsman, Wachelka, Suski, & Cooke, ; Shaw et al, ). More specifically, Gaeta et al () showed voluntary release rates of muskellunge around 99% and Gilbert and Sass (), Eslinger et al (), and Shaw et al () showed a voluntary switch in the recreational muskellunge fishery from harvest‐ to catch‐and‐release oriented in the late 1980s. The muskellunge fishery in the CTWI is composed of a harvest‐oriented tribal spear fishery and a catch‐and‐release‐oriented angling fishery (U.S. Department of the Interior, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of cisco (Coregonus artedi, Lesueur) on muskellunge (Esox masquinongy, Mitchill) mean length, population size structure, and maximum size in northern Wisconsin lakes

et al. 2020

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Population size structure and maximum size of managed sportfish populations are dictated by abiotic, biotic, ecosystem, and anthropogenic influences. In their native ranges of northern Wisconsin, muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) and cisco (Coregonus artedi) are co‐adapted cool‐ and cold‐water species where cisco presence may influence population size structure and maximum size of muskellunge. We tested whether muskellunge size structure indices (length‐frequency distributions, proportional size distribution), mean length, and mean maximum length of muskellunge differed when cisco were present or absent in Ceded Territory of Wisconsin (CTWI) lakes during 2015–2018. Cisco presence had a positive influence on size structure and mean length of individual muskellunge within populations. In contrast, cisco presence had no influence on the mean maximum length of muskellunge observed in CTWI populations suggesting that other factors may be better predictors of this metric than cisco presence. In cisco lakes, mean muskellunge length was negatively correlated with mean cisco length suggesting that gape limitation may be a factor influencing population size structure and individual growth rates. Therefore, cisco populations with primarily large individuals may be unavailable to muskellunge as forage. Our results suggest that cisco are an important forage species for some aspects of muskellunge population ecology; however, other factors may also contribute to muskellunge population size structure and maximum size outcomes. As such, conservation of remaining cisco populations in Wisconsin is critical because they influence muskellunge population ecology in lakes where the species coexist. Future research is needed to better understand the interactions of cisco, abiotic and biotic factors, and anthropogenic influences on muskellunge growth dynamics.

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“…), and many formerly harvest‐oriented fisheries have switched to primarily voluntary release over time (Hansen et al. ; Gilbert and Sass ; Eslinger et al. ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, creel data were sparse during this time period and evidence was only anecdotal (Simonson and Hewett ). In the early 1980s, voluntary catch‐and‐release practices by Muskellunge anglers in Wisconsin were beginning to increase (Sandell ; Simonson and Hewett ; Gilbert and Sass ). By the 1990s, Wisconsin Muskellunge fisheries were primarily catch‐and‐release oriented, and voluntary release rates were reported to be as high as 99% (Sandell ); and this trend continues into the present (Gaeta et al.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Angler Harvest on Adult Muskellunge Growth and Survival in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin, 1956–2016

Shaw

Sass

Eslinger

2019

N American J Fish Manag

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The behavior of anglers targeting Muskellunge Esox masquinongy in Wisconsin has changed over time from being harvest oriented to catch‐and‐release oriented. Our objectives were to use the long‐term tagging data set (1956–2016) available on the Muskellunge population of Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin, to characterize sex‐specific age structure, length at age, and survival in relation to a potential change in angler harvest. We hypothesized that (1) angler harvest has changed over time, (2) age structure and length at age have changed in relation to the change in angler harvest, and (3) annual survival has changed over time in relation to changes in angler harvest. A breakpoint analysis revealed distinct changes in angler total harvest over time, occurring in 1995 and 2011. Muskellunge harvest (1956–1994) was significantly higher (29.7 ± 15.9 fish/year [mean ± SD]) than that observed during 1995–2010 (6.5 ± 2.9 fish/year) and 2011–2016 (0.83 ± 1.1 fish/year). Sex‐specific growth did not differ between fishery type (i.e., high and low harvest). However, there was evidence that the asymptotic length of female Muskellunge was higher during the high harvest fishery. The top model in program MARK suggested that survival (S) differed by fishery type; i.e., Shigh ± SD = 0.72 ± 0.01 and Slow ± SD = 0.99 ± 0.006. Exploitation was the primary component of annual mortality. Natural and discard mortality could not be differentiated. Natural and discard mortality was 9.2 ± 11%/year during the high harvest fishery and 4.9 ± 5.9%/year during the low harvest fishery. Reductions in Muskellunge exploitation led to increased survival and no apparent change in length at age. These results from Escanaba Lake suggest that the lack of harvest leading to an unexploited Muskellunge fishery may result in population stability, improved age structure distribution, and adult survival, but could potentially hinder management actions meant to further increase population density or growth potential to trophy size.

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Trends in a northern Wisconsin muskellunge fishery: results from a countywide angling contest, 1964–2010

Cited by 26 publications

References 23 publications

Inland Fisheries Habitat Management: Lessons Learned from Wildlife Ecology and a Proposal for Change

Inland Fisheries Habitat Management: Lessons Learned from Wildlife Ecology and a Proposal for Change

Influence of cisco (Coregonus artedi, Lesueur) on muskellunge (Esox masquinongy, Mitchill) mean length, population size structure, and maximum size in northern Wisconsin lakes

Effects of Angler Harvest on Adult Muskellunge Growth and Survival in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin, 1956–2016

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