1985-2005 July Monthly Summary
 

  Preliminary summary of fishing boat trips and fish harvested, and harvest rates per boat trip for trout and salmon and

 smallmouth bass among boats seeking these species, for the month of July, from the 1985-2005 DEC Lake Ontario fishing boat censuses. 

  Harvest Rates Per Boat Trip Among Boats Fishing for Trout & Salmon:

  Harvest Rates Per Boat trip Among Boats Fishing for Smallmouth Bass:

Fishing effort in July 2005 was estimated at 19,512 fishing boat trips, the highest July effort estimate since July 2000, and an 8.4% increase compared to the 2000-2004 July average (previous 5 years).  Boats targeting trout and salmon accounted for 10,862 boat trips, the highest July effort estimate for trout and salmon boats since 1995, and a 46.6% increase compared to the  2000-2004 average.  Boats targeting smallmouth bass accounted for 7,693 boat trips, a 19.5% decline compared to the 2000-2004 July average for bass boats.

Numbers of fish harvested are significantly influenced by changes in fishing effort.  In keeping with an increase in targeted fishing effort, the total number of trout and salmon harvested in July 2005 increased to 16,650 fish.  This is the highest July salmonine harvest estimated since 1995, and a 43.7% increase compared to the 2000-2004 July average.  Chinook salmon dominated the July 2005 harvest with an estimate of 11,931 fish, the fourth highest July Chinook salmon harvest estimate among the 21 years censused.  In direct contrast to Chinook salmon, the July 2005 smallmouth bass harvest was the fourth lowest July estimate among the years censused, and a 47.6% decrease compared to the 2000-2004 average July bass harvest.

Fishing quality as measured by harvest rates was below average in July 2005, except for Chinook salmon.  The trout and salmon harvest rate among boats seeking trout and salmon was 1.53 fish per boat trip, down 27.9% compared to July 2004, and slightly below (-3.4%) the 2000-2004 July average.  Comparisons by species show that July 2005 harvest rates were below their respective 2000-2004 averages for rainbow trout (-28.9%), brown trout (-41.9%), lake trout (-74.6%), coho salmon (-91.6%), and Atlantic salmon (none observed in July 2005).  Chinook salmon was the exception, with an estimated July 2005 harvest rate of 1.09 fish per boat trip.  Although 17.9% less than the record high observed in July 2004, the July 2005 rate was still the second highest July Chinook salmon harvest rate among the years censused, and a 65.8% increase compared to the 2000-2004 July average.  The July 2005 smallmouth bass harvest rate among boats targeting smallmouth bass was up 17.9% compared to 2004, but was still down 29.2% compared to its 2000-2004 July average.

1985-2005 April-July Monthly Summary

  Preliminary summary of fishing boat trips and fish harvested, and harvest rates per boat trip for trout and salmon and

 smallmouth bass among boats seeking these species, for the months of April-July, from the 1985-2005 DEC Lake Ontario fishing boat censuses.

  Harvest Rates Per Boat Trip Among Boats Fishing for Trout & Salmon:

  Harvest Rates Per Boat trip Among Boats Fishing for Smallmouth Bass:

Fishing effort for the months of April-July 2005 (4-month total) was estimated at 48,818 fishing boat trips, the highest April-July effort estimate since 2000, and 9.9% higher than the 2000-2004 April-July effort average (previous 5 years).  Boats targeting trout and salmon accounted for 33,057 boat trips, 67.7% of the total 2005 April-June fishing effort, and 23.6% more than the 2000-2004 April-July average for trout and salmon fishermen.  Boats targeting smallmouth bass since the season opener (June 18) accounted for 12,319 boats trips, 25.2% of the total April-July fishing effort, and 13.7% less than the 2000-2004 average for smallmouth bass fishermen.

The total number of trout and salmon harvested in April-July 2004 was estimated at 59,056 fish, the highest April-July harvest estimated since 1995, and 44.7% higher than the 2000-2004 average April-July salmonine harvest.  Chinook salmon and brown trout were the most commonly harvested species, comprising 47.4% and 36.8% respectively of the 2005 April-July salmonine total.  Smallmouth bass harvest in 2005 since opening day was estimated at just 15,791 fish, a 40.8% decrease compared to the 2000-2004 average June-July smallmouth harvest.

Fishing quality as measured by harvest rates was mixed in April-July 2005.  The trout and salmon harvest rate among boats seeking trout and salmon was 1.78 fish per boat trip, by a small margin, the highest April-July trout and salmon harvest rate observed since 1993, and 16.3% higher than the 2000-2004 April-July average rate.  Comparisons among the salmonine species show that April-July 2005 harvest rates were above their respective 2000-2004 averages for Chinook salmon (+112.6%), and coho salmon (+29.4%), essentially equal to the 2000-2004 average for brown trout (+0.1%), and below their respective 2000-2004 averages for rainbow trout (-36.6%), lake trout (-69.1%), and Atlantic salmon (-77.6%).  The smallmouth bass harvest rate among boats seeking smallmouth bass was just 1.24 fish per boat trip, the fourth lowest June- July harvest rate among the years censused, and 26.4% less than the 2000-2004 average June-July smallmouth bass harvest rate.