DNR/improve sunfish size

[Lee Borgersen]

DNR seeking to improve sunfish size quality
             
 
Written By: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources  Jul 31st 2019 - 4am.
 
  ....
Large sunfish are scarce in many Minnesota lakes and local fisheries managers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are responding to angler desire for bigger sunfish by seeking out specific lakes that would be a good fit for improving sunfish size quality by reducing sunfish bag limits.

  ...
Some angling groups have been asking the DNR for several years to consider modifying the 20-fish bag limit for sunfish and adding length restrictions, but angler survey data show apprehension over a statewide bag limit reduction or length restrictions. In response, the DNR is seeking to identify individual lakes that have the right biological characteristics, and local angler support, to benefit from reducing the sunfish bag limit.

“Sunfish grow slowly, about an inch per year. We could grow two trophy bucks in the time it takes to grow a trophy bluegill, but for decades we didn’t think twice about keeping big sunfish,” said Dave Weitzel, Grand Rapids area fisheries supervisor. “Now we’re working locally to identify lakes capable of producing higher quality sunfish.”

  ....
Starting this summer, fisheries managers will be meeting with local angling groups to gauge support for reducing the sunfish bag limit on some lakes through the DNR’s process of proposing special regulations. Angler input is an important part of that process -- without support these regulation changes will most likely not go into effect.

Special regulations are specific to individual waters. Through the DNR’s Quality Bluegill Initiative, fisheries managers aim to increase the number of special regulation lakes for sunfish from about 60 to between 200 and 250 lakes statewide by the year 2023.

“Just like anyone else, we want fishing for sunfish to be enjoyable and to a lot of folks that means catching a big sunfish. Without a management change, it’s likely sunfish size will continue to decline, largely because of the influence we as anglers exert on their populations,” Weitzel said.
On any lake, anglers can voluntarily help protect big sunfish by releasing or limiting their harvest of large sunfish, which are considered about eight inches or bigger.

Sunfish spawn in large nesting colonies during the spring and early summer. Parental male sunfish build and defend nests. Females will select a male, lay eggs, and leave the eggs for the male to protect and fan with his fins. These nest-building male sunfish play an important role in repopulation, with the largest sunfish often getting the best spawning sites.

When anglers keep only the largest sunfish, the remaining small males don’t need to compete with larger males to spawn.

Once the larger males are gone, the smaller males devote less energy to growing. Instead, they devote energy to spawning at younger ages and smaller sizes.

Spawning sunfish are particularly prone to over harvest because they are very aggressive while defending a nest. Anglers can help by releasing spawning sunfish, especially large, nesting males. Released fish have a high survival rate and will typically return to their nests to complete the spawning cycle.

More information about sunfish biology and management can be found at mndnr.gov/fish/sunfish.


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[roony]

In my humble opinion a big part of the answer is to leave them alone completely when they are on their beds. Catching and releasing might help a little but a better solution is to leave them be. Believe me I know how fun it is to be catching those huge males and I did my share of it in the past. I can't see myself doing it in the future though.

[Reinhard]

I agree with Roony.  Leave them alone during spawning.  We have restricted areas for walleye's due to spawning for a good reason.  Also I would like to see some slot limits on them, say none over 8 inches for example.  good luck.

[glenn57]

i also agree with roony. i leave all fish alone when there spawning. hell so far this year i've pretty much all fish alone spawning or not!!!!!!!!

[Leech~~]

May be they need to print the Reg's in all Languages and increase the fines when caught. 

Then may be they wouldn't find 500 of them in peoples trunks!   

[roony]

May be they need to print the Reg's in all Languages and increase the fines when caught. 

Then may be they wouldn't find 500 of them in peoples trunks!   

Don't the cheeseheads know how to read English yet????

[snow1]

Better yet  lets make game laws in english,test out to aquire said licenses.... its not racist its our country anf our laws,game laws driving folks need to test out read and understand otherwise in a few more years we'll be hurting for sure fish and game species.

[Lee Borgersen]

Quote of the Day....

"We could grow 2 trophy bucks in the time it takes to grow a trophy bluegill...."


- That quote from Dave Weitzel (Grand Rapids, MN area fisheries supervisor) is talking about how sunfish grow sloooow -- maybe only 1" per year -- yet for decades no one thought twice about keeping the biggest ones from the batch.


  ...
Could (finally!) be seeing some possible reg changes coming to help make bluegill fishing great again:


  .....
> Without a management change, it's likely sunfish size will continue to decline, largely because of the influence we as anglers exert on their populations.



> Some angling groups have been asking the DNR for several years to consider modifying the 20-fish bag limit for sunfish and adding length restrictions, but angler survey data show apprehension over a statewide bag limit reduction or length restrictions.



> In response, the DNR is seeking to identify individual lakes that have the right biological characteristics, and local angler support, to benefit from reducing the sunfish bag limit.



> Through the DNR's Quality Bluegill Initiative, fisheries managers aim to increase the number of special regulation lakes for sunfish from about 60 to between 200 and 250 lakes statewide by the year 2023.

[Gunner55]

He(Weitzel) brought this up at our lake assoc. meeting last year to see if there was much support for a regs change here, without much of a reaction from the crowd. Personally, I'd like to see some sort of slot & a reduced bag limit on all panfish. As with walleye even before we got a slot last year, I hardly ever keep my limit & always try to let the big ones go. So when the crappies go super deep(30-50') here in the fall, I quit  them unless I want some to eat.

[glenn57]

yep.....pretty soon the regulations book will be the size of a john grissom 400 page novel and you'll need a lawyer to understand it fishing with ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

yep.....pretty soon the regulations book will be the size of a john grissom 400 page novel and you'll need a lawyer to understand it fishing with ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I already need Boar to interpret some of the boaranese regs for me.....

[Gunner55]

yep.....pretty soon the regulations book will be the size of a john grissom 400 page novel and you'll need a lawyer to understand it fishing with ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't think it'd affect you much ,glenn, as it would be more for people who catch ....................................

[Rebel SS]

Wait 'til Wednesday am; I'll be posting pics what a lot of crappies look like for his education.  Too bad the limit is 10.   

[Gunner55]

Have fun, Reb! Hope the weather cooperates.

[Rebel SS]

Thanks! They were hittin' yday in 15'-20' trolling 1/32 oz twisters. No Wake came off, finally, and lake exploded with boats... Had planned today...natch...bumped to tomorrow.

[glenn57]

Wait 'til Wednesday am; I'll be posting pics what a lot of crappies look like for his education.  Too bad the limit is 10.   

yea whatever...........i've thrown more fish back then you've caught!!!!!!!!!!

[glenn57]

yep.....pretty soon the regulations book will be the size of a john grissom 400 page novel and you'll need a lawyer to understand it fishing with ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't think it'd affect you much ,glenn, as it would be more for people who catch ....................................

you sound like reb now!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gunner55]

 

[Rebel SS]

DNR News Release


Public invited to comment on special fishing regulations


During a series of 17 public meetings, anglers and others can give their opinions about proposed 2020 changes to special fishing regulations for 30 lakes.

These proposed changes are coming from 13 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources area fisheries offices. These regulations are designed to help meet fisheries objectives for particular lakes and would be different from the regulations that apply statewide or to major zones of the state.

“Lots of folks don’t realize how important it is for us to have Minnesotans’ perspectives integrated into our fish management goals,” said Jon Hansen, DNR fisheries programs consultant. “Public input and engagement are central to helping us work with Minnesotans to effectively manage fisheries.”

For example, public input could lead to a specific fish population objective, such as increasing pike sizes, Hansen explained. The DNR can propose regulations to achieve that objective, and anglers and others can share their thoughts about the proposal. Fisheries staff spend much of their time collecting data on fish populations, which tells whether a management objective is being met. Then, the DNR responds to these data by proposing to change a regulation or keep it the same.

The list of proposed regulation changes is long this year because of a review of existing special northern pike regulations that are different from the zone regulations.

During the process of implementing the northern pike management zones in 2018, the DNR committed to re-evaluating all of the existing special pike regulations on 84 lakes to see where the special regulations were producing the desired results and which lakes might perform as well under the new zone regulations. Based on the review, 10 lakes are being proposed to revert to the zone regulation and five are proposed to be modified to a different special regulation.

In most streams and rivers, statewide regulations, such as bag limits, do an adequate job in providing quality fishing opportunities; however, some fish populations are unique or experience angling pressure that warrants special regulations. Special or experimental regulations are found in their own section of the 2019 Minnesota Fishing Regulations handbook (pages 38 to 54).

Notification of the proposed changes to special fishing regulations have been posted at the accesses to each lake for most of the open water fishing season.

Anyone who cannot attend a local meeting can call or write to local fisheries offices to comment about the proposed regulations. Phone numbers and email addresses for local fisheries offices can be found online at mndnr.gov/areas/fisheries, or on page 87 of the fishing regulations handbook. The offices will accept written or verbal comments up to 10 days following the scheduled local meeting.

An open house about all of the regulation proposals will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the DNR headquarters in St. Paul, 500 Lafayette Road. No formal presentations will be made at the open house but comments on any proposal across the state will be accepted. Additionally, written comments on any proposal can be sent by email to jon.hansen@state.mn.us until Nov. 12. 

Meeting details:

Aitkin County (Aitkin area fisheries): New special walleye regulations on Minnewawa and Horseshoe lakes, 4:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, Aitkin DNR area office, 1200 Minnesota Ave. S., Aitkin.
Becker County (Detroit Lakes area fisheries): Removing special northern pike regulations on Eunice and Maud lakes, 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, Lake Eunice Town Hall, 12708 Townhall Road, Audobon.
Beltrami County (Bemidji area fisheries): Northern pike regulation change on Upper Red Lake, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, North Beltrami Community Center, Gould Avenue SE and Main Street., Kelliher; removing special northern pike regulation on Big Lake, 6:30 p.m., Ten Lake Township Hall, 2142 Mission Road NE, Cass Lake.
Cass County (Walker area fisheries): Removing special northern pike regulations on Ada and Ten Mile lakes, 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, at The Hub, 213 1st St. S., Hackensack.
Clearwater County (Bemidji area fisheries): Removing special northern pike and muskellunge regulations on Elk Lake, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, Itasca State Park Visitor Center, 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids.
Cook County (Grand Marais area fisheries): Removing special northern pike regulations on Little Cascade and Loon lakes, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, Cook County Community Center, 317 W. 5th St., Grand Marais.
Crow Wing County (Brainerd area fisheries): Northern pike regulation change on Mitchell Lake, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, DNR area office, 1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd.
Hubbard County (Park Rapids area fisheries): Northern pike regulation change on 8th, 9th and 10th Crow Wing lakes, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, Community Meeting Room at Northwoods Bank, 1200 E. First St., Park Rapids.
Itasca County (Grand Rapids area fisheries): Two meetings – walleye regulation changes on Moose, Deer, Battle, Pickerel, Split Hand and Swan lakes, and a smallmouth bass regulation change on Turtle Lake, 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9, Big Fork City Hall, 200 Main Ave., Big Fork; 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, Minnesota Interagency Fire Center, 402 SE 11th St., Grand Rapids.
Kandiyohi County (Spicer area fisheries): Largemouth bass regulation change on Long Lake, 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, Roseville Township Hall, 15768 232nd Ave. NE., Hawick; walleye regulation change on Green Lake, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, Dethlefs Community Center, 317 Hillcrest Ave., Spicer.
Ramsey County (East Metro area fisheries): Largemouth bass regulation change on Turtle Lake, 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N., Shoreview.
St. Louis County (Duluth area fisheries): Northern pike regulation change on Prairie Lake, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, Floodwood Fair Building, 107 W. 7th Ave., Floodwood.
St. Louis County (International Falls area fisheries): Removing special northern pike regulations on Elephant Lake, 7 p.m., Sept. 24, Camp Five Town Hall, County Road 180, Fire Number 6560, Orr.
Todd County (Little Falls area fisheries): Black crappie regulation change on Mound Lake, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, Shadys Golden Eagle, 13218 County Road 103, Burtrum.
Washington County (East Metro area fisheries):  Largemouth bass regulation change on Olson and Demontreville lakes and removing special northern pike regulation on Big Carnelian Lake, 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2, Stillwater Public Library, Margaret Rivers B Room, 224 3rd St. N., Stillwater.
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[glenn57]

Wait 'til Wednesday am; I'll be posting pics what a lot of crappies look like for his education.  Too bad the limit is 10.   

so where are all these fish pictures you where gonna show me?????????

[Rebel SS]

I'll show a few.  That'll haveta do. Had the lake to ourselves..and I see why. 85*, humid as he**, and HOT. Dead calm. In fact, I ended up having to quit and come home because I got sick from too much sun/heat. Sitting out in it for three hours wasn't a great idea for me. But....caught lots of everything, except for what I wanted...we didn't score one crappie..!!  Caught a mess of really nice size long-ear sunnies, some nice stripers, (no pics) some perch, a stoopid few sheephead, a smallmouth....surprised we caught that with the dead calm and heat. I pounded my buddy...he only caught three fish.   

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[glenn57]

nice lookin gills.............i'dda been all over them!!!!!!!!!

yea that heat and humidity can be tough on an old guy. it got to me sat also!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

Well, I had a blood sugar crash with it....and some meds I'm on say be careful in the heat.... Was seriously sick by the time he got me home.
 Ya, those danged sunnies were really nice sized. I hate the things! Swallow yer jig, and ya gotta dig around and yank it out. They're my buddies favorite fish; I have no idea why. I'll take the crappies and bass anyday.


And the No Wake was finally off.........

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[glenn57]

crappies and bass................may as well eat the sheepie too!!!!!!!!!!!

sunfish ARE THE #1 fish to eat!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

            Oh no,  Crappies eat best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[glenn57]

            Oh no,  Crappies eat best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PIFFLE!!!!!!!!!!! mush!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

Ahh, whaddya you know? That's just 'cuz they're the biggest fish you can catch!! 



I better not tell Glenn Crappies are a member of the sunfish family.....

[roony]

I prefer the firm meat of the bluegill to the soft crappie. I eat them both though.
But crappies... pffffffffffft, anyone can catch those dummies.

[Rebel SS]

Don't you have some 'mater's to go pluck?   

[roony]

no garden this year so I have to help smurf pick on you.