Yellow perch spawning assessment, Green Can Reef – 2006
In 2006 sampling year, we took three lifts with a total effort of 2,500 ft of gillnet. The mesh sizes used were 2.5”, 2.75”, 3” and 3.25”. Sampling was conducted on 5/17/06, 5/23/06 and 6/7/06. A total of 1,741 yellow perch were captured, 91% of them being males. Very few females were captured in the first two lifts, and the majority of them were green. The bottom temperature at this time was still on the cooler side, ranging from 44 to 45 0F. In the last lift, about 1/4th of the perch were females and the majority of them were spent (78%). 75 spine samples were used to examine the age distribution. They ranged from age 3 through age 8 fish. The data revealed that the 1998 year-class dominated the spawning population (61%) followed by the 2002 year-class (29%). 2001 year-class represented a meager 7% in the catch. The 1998 year-class yellow perch were distributed in all four mesh sizes; the average size of perch caught in 3.25” mesh was 313 mm.
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Sampling date |
Number (all) |
Number (male) |
Number (female) |
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May 16th |
533 | 493 | 41 |
| May 22nd | 808 | 781 | 27 |
June 7th |
400 | 306 | 94 |
2006 – yellow perch egg deposition survey:
The WDNR dive team continued the effort using the protocol similar to 2003 to quantify egg deposition in the Green Can Reef area.
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2006 Diving for yellow perch egg deposition |
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Date |
Divers |
Depth |
Location |
Area searched |
# of egg masses |
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June 1, 2006 |
Mike N |
52 – 55 |
East of Green Can Reef |
25 |
7 |
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Cheryl |
25 |
1 |
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June 1, 2006 |
Tim K |
47 – 55 |
East of Green Can Reef |
20 |
23 |
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Ryan V |
20 |
7 |
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June 1, 2006 |
Mike N |
43 – 48 |
East and South of GCR |
20 |
28 |
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Cheryl |
20 |
17 |
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June 1, 2006 |
Tim K |
33 – 43 |
East and South of GCR |
20 |
18 |
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Ryan V |
20 |
34 |
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June 6, 2006 |
Brad E. |
30 – 42 |
North of GCR |
20 |
45 |
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Mike K. |
20 |
33 |
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June 6, 2006 |
Mike B. |
33 – 44 |
South of GCR |
20 |
19 |
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Tim K. |
15 |
24 |
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June 6, 2006 |
Brad E. |
24 – 26 |
West of GCR |
18 |
11 |
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Mike K. |
18 |
11 |
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June 6, 2006 |
Cheryl P. |
37 – 46 |
South and slightly west of GCR |
25 |
39 |
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Tim K. |
25 |
22 |
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Total eggs found = 339
Egg masses per 1000 m2 = 11.27