Status of Sport Fish in North Wabasca Lake, Alberta, 2006


Author(s)

Nathan Carruthers and Tyler Johns

Summary

Strategies implemented by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) to manage sport fish populations in Alberta require ongoing monitoring to evaluate their effectiveness. The present study was conducted on North Wabasca Lake to generate quantitative data on abundance, population structure and growth of four major species; walleye (Sander vitreus), northern pike (Esox lucius), yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis).

A total of 822 fish were captured during the 2006 survey. Northern pike was the most abundant sport fish, accounting for 19% of the catch, and yellow perch was the least abundant, accounting for 5% of the catch.

A total of 99 walleye were caught in the 2006 stock assessment. Mean catch-per-uniteffort (CPUE) for walleye ranged from 3.73 to 8.33 fish/100 m2/24 h, with a total catchper-unit-effort (TCUE) of 5.67 fish/100 m2/24 h. Of the 99 walleye sampled, 63% were female and 37% were male resulting in a female to male sex ratio of 1.69:1. Total length (TL) of females ranged from 122.6 to 612.6 mm with a mean length (± SD) of 392.8 ± 118.3 mm (n = 61). Males ranged in length from 125.8 to 475.0 mm with a mean length of 365.4 ± 93.0 mm (n = 36). Male walleye ranged in age from 2 to 13 y with a mean age (± SD) of 6.84 ± 3.14 y (n = 31). Females ranged in age from 2 to 15 y with a mean age of 5.98 ± 2.97 y (n = 55). Overall, mean age of the catch was 6.29 ± 3.04 y (n = 86).

A total of 158 northern pike were caught in the 2006 stock assessment. Mean CPUE for northern pike ranged from 6.83 to 10.88 fish/100 m2/24 h, with a TCUE of 9.06 fish/100 m2/24 h. Of the 158 northern pike sampled, 74% were female and 26% were male resulting in a female to male sex ratio of 2.85:1. Total length of females ranged from 438.4 to 912.5 mm with a mean length of 696.5 ± 114.65 mm (n = 117). Males ranged in length from 439.4 to 739.2 mm with a mean length of 566.4 ± 87.09 mm (n = 41). Males ranged in age from 3 to 12 y with a mean age of 5.74 ± 2.27 y (n = 39). Females ranged in age from 3 to 11 y with a mean age of 6.59 ± 1.93 y (n = 114). Overall, mean age of the catch was 6.38 ± 2.05 y (n = 153).

A total of 43 yellow perch were caught in the 2006 stock assessment. Mean CPUE for yellow perch ranged from 1.18 to 4.06 fish/100 m2/24 h with a total CPUE of 2.47 fish/100 m2/24 h. Of the 39 yellow perch sampled where sex could be determined, 69.2% (n = 27) were female and 30.8% (n = 12) were male resulting in a female to male sex ratio of 2.25:1. Total length of females ranged from 99.0 to 276.7 mm with a mean length of 197.2 ± 64.9 mm (n = 27). Males ranged in length from 105.3 to 247.2 mm with a mean length of 179.8 ± 46.2 mm (n = 12). Male yellow perch ranged in age from 2 to 9 y with a mean age of 5.00 ± 2.65 y (n = 7). Females ranged in age from 1 to 9 y with a mean age of 6.15 ± 2.61 y (n = 13). Overall, mean age of the catch was 5.32 ± 2.85 y (n = 22).

A total of 100 lake whitefish were caught in the 2006 stock assessment. Mean CPUE for lake whitefish ranged from 4.17 to 6.68 fish/100 m2/24 h with a TCUE of 5.74 fish/100 m2/24 h. Of the 99 lake whitefish sampled where sex could be determined, 44% (n = 44) were female and 56% (n = 55) were male resulting in a female to male sex ratio of 0.80:1. Total length of females ranged from 257.4 to 534.8 mm with a mean length of 464.4 ± 68.83 mm (n = 44). Males ranged in length from 273.6 to 545.6 mm with a mean length of 469.1 ± 57.14 mm (n = 55). Males ranged in age from 2 to 15 y with a mean age of 8.75 ± 3.15 y (n = 55). Females ranged in age from 2 to 14 y with a mean age of 8.44 ± 3.66 y (n = 43). Overall, mean age of the catch was 8.54 ± 3.43 y (n = 99).

The results of this study provide important baseline information that can be used by resource managers to quantify the effects of anticipated increases in angling pressure on sport fish populations in North Wabasca Lake.

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