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The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) launched its annual open-water angling survey for the Bay of Quinte on the opening day of walleye (yellow pickerel) season again this year. Surveys were conducted using a small aircraft to count boats, and on-water Ministry crews to interview anglers. Flight crews reported excellent weather conditions for this year’s opening weekend, except for Sunday afternoon when thunderstorms were scattered throughout the Quinte area. The highest boat count occurred on Saturday morning, May 6 when aerial survey crews counted just over 2,000 boats. The highest fishing pressure occurred in the Long Reach/Hay Bay area (668 boats), followed by the Trenton (307 boats) and Deseronto (214 boats) areas. An estimated 55,000 hours of fishing effort occurred over the weekend, down about 25% compared to last year. Anglers caught and harvested 812 and 597 walleye respectively, down 65% compared to last year. Ministry field crews interviewed over 500 anglers in 238 boats, and indicated that the walleye fishing success was generally poor. Fisheries technicians reported that the best catches occurred in Hay Bay and in the Napanee River. The average size of walleye harvested was just over 2 pounds and measured 18 inches total length. Anglers also caught 20,573 yellow perch and over 1,176 northern pike. About 70% of those anglers interviewed were participating in local walleye tournaments and derbies.
For more information: Jim Hoyle, Assessment Biologist Lake Ontario Management Unit Glenora (613) 476-7977 |
