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 September, from the 1985-2004 DEC Lake Ontario

	9-yr. Avg.	5-yr. avg.			Yearly	Estimates
	1985-93	1994-98	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Fishing Boat Trips:	33,031	17,699	22,820	15,630	16,059	12,349	13,955	19,167

No. of Fish Harvested:
Coho Salmon	2,966	721	2,201	347	830	221	1,586	456
Chinook Salmon	20,750	7,287	11,412	4,547	3,106	3,255	8,984	10,470
Rainbow Trout	3,490	2,259	6,161	1,810	1,320	344	380	1,504
Atlantic Salmon	2	10	62	0	0	0	0	0
Brown Trout	822	471	470	557	446	61	629	24
Lake Trout	1,682	353	34	83	1,646	1,575	54	47
Total Trout & Salmon	29,712	11,106	20,340	7,344	7,347	5,456	11,634	12,500

Smallmouth Bass	9,184	8,887	20,814	4,907	8,687	9,165	14,744	5,840
Yellow Perch	3,078	1,098	3,898	2,597	809	405	1,203	6,069
Walleye	37	221	23	185	263	85	61	0

Coho Salmon	0.101	0.051	0.135	0.028	0.082	0.029	0.165	0.032
Chinook Salmon	0.697	0.492	0.702	0.371	0.309	0.428	0.932	0.734
Rainbow Trout	0.129	0.153	0.379	0.148	0.129	0.045	0.040	0.105
Atlantic Salmon	0.000	0.000	0.004	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
Brown Trout	0.029	0.030	0.029	0.043	0.044	0.008	0.065	0.002
Lake Trout	0.058	0.024	0.002	0.007	0.164	0.208	0.006	0.003
Total Trout & Salmon	1.014	0.750	1.250	0.597	0.728	0.719	1.208	0.876

As typically occurs, effort in the open lake boat fishery declined between August and September. Effort in September 2004 was estimated at 19,167 fishing boat trips, a 31.9% decrease compared to August 2004,but an 18.6% increase compared to the 1999-2003 average September effort (previous 5 years). Boats targeting trout and salmon accounted for 14,262 boat trips, 74.4% of the September total, and a 27.9% increase compared to the 1999-2003 September average. Boats targeting smallmouth bass accounted for 4,423 boat trips (23.1% of the September total); 2.4% above the 1999-2003 September average.

Chinook salmon was the most commonly harvested species within the area censused with an estimate of 10,470 fish, a 67.2% increase compared to the 1999-2003 average September Chinook harvest. Smallmouth bass harvest in September 2004 was estimated at 5,840 fish, a 49.9% decrease compared to the 1999-2003 average September harvest. Yellow perch was the second most commonly harvested species with an estimate of 6,069 fish, the second highest September estimate among the years censused, and the second consecutive month in which yellow perch harvest in the open lake fishery was well above average.

Fishing quality as measured by harvest rates was generally below average in September 2004. The trout and salmon harvest rate among boats seeking trout and salmon was 0.88 fish per boat trip, just slightly below (-2.7%) the 1999-2003 September average. Comparisons among trout and salmon species show that September 2004 harvest rates were above their respective 1999-2003 averages only for Chinook salmon (+33.9%, and the fourth highest September harvest rate), and below their respective 1999-2003 averages for rainbow trout (-28.8%), Coho salmon (-63.7%), brown trout (-95.6%), lake trout (-95.7%), and Atlantic salmon (none observed in September 2004). Lower than average harvest rates for some of these species may have been due to a shift in angling effort to take advantage of exceptional Chinook salmon fishing opportunities. The smallmouth bass harvest rate among boats seeking smallmouth bass was 1.12 fish per boat trip, a 53.6% decrease compared to the 1999-2003 average September harvest rate, and the lowest September harvest rate among the years censused.

Preliminary six month (April-September) summary of total fishing boat trips, trips by boats seeking any or all species of trout and salmon, trips by boats seeking smallmouth bass during the open season, and harvest rates per boat trip for trout and salmon and smallmouth bass among boats seeking these species, from the 2004 DEC Lake Ontario fishing boat census. Also shown are percent comparisons of the 2004 estimates with their respective 1999-2003 averages (previous 5 years). Comparisons with a minus sign indicate that the 2004 estimate was lower than its respective 1999-2003 average; comparisons with a plus sign indicate that the 2004 estimate was higher than its respective 1999-2003 average.

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-September, from the 1985-2004 DEC Lake

	9-yr. avg.	5-yr. avg.			Yearly	Estimates
	1985-93	1994-98	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Fishing Boat Trips:	178,632	107,650	98,243	97,068	100,038	86,401	79,958	84,671

No. of Fish Harvested:
Coho Salmon	15,464	7,739	8,125	7,466	6,714	1,870	5,079	3,430
Chinook Salmon	77,092	37,558	29,812	25,478	25,097	18,307	31,525	51,443
Rainbow Trout	32,789	29,045	20,351	9,816	16,018	6,866	8,245	11,472
Atlantic Salmon	652	313	156	24	71	146	18	19
Brown Trout	51,525	27,466	22,082	27,483	25,475	16,811	22,277	16,719
Lake Trout	62,150	15,702	12,286	7,319	9,866	15,718	4,711	4,250
Total Trout & Salmon	239,691	117,828	92,957	77,586	83,241	59,719	71,854	87,349

Smallmouth Bass	48,978	40,698	92,556	74,954	62,735	43,161	65,633	34,380
Yellow Perch	9,796	3,798	14,394	10,127	7,108	4,595	8,171	18,380
Walleye	176	1,334	530	496	445	1,020	560	352

Coho Salmon	0.099	0.103	0.130	0.115	0.105	0.036	0.106	0.059
Chinook Salmon	0.495	0.459	0.481	0.391	0.394	0.347	0.657	0.889
Rainbow Trout	0.223	0.364	0.328	0.151	0.251	0.130	0.172	0.198
Atlantic Salmon	0.004	0.003	0.003	0.000	0.001	0.003	0.000	0.000
Brown Trout	0.341	0.341	0.352	0.420	0.396	0.316	0.457	0.287
Lake Trout	0.399	0.194	0.198	0.113	0.155	0.296	0.098	0.073
Total Trout & Salmon	1.562	1.464	1.493	1.190	1.303	1.129	1.491	1.507

Fishing effort for the months of April-September 2004 (6-month total) was estimated at 84,671 fishing boat trips, a 5.9% increase compared to the record low 2003 estimate. This is the second lowest effort estimate among the years censused and 8.3% less than the 1999-2003 April-September average (previous 5 years). Comparisons of the 2004 monthly estimates with their respective 1999-2003 averages (see previous page) show that fishing effort was below average in 2004 for the months of April-August, with the largest percent declines in April (-25.0%) and June (-35.1%). September was the only month in 2004 when estimated fishing effort was above its respective 1999-2003 average (+18.6%). Boats targeting trout and salmon accounted for 57,872 boat trips, the third lowest April-September estimate among the years censused, but just 0.7% less than the 1999-2003 April-September average for trout and salmon fishermen. Monthly comparisons of the 2004 estimates with their respective 1999-2003 averages were similar to those described for total fishing effort: the largest declines in the months of April (-24.2%) and June (-15.3%), with September the only above average month (+27.9%). Boats targeting smallmouth bass since the season opening (June 19) accounted for 22,340 boats trips, the lowest June-September estimate since 1996, and 22.8% less than the 1999-2003 June-September average for smallmouth bass effort.

The total number of trout and salmon harvested in April-September 2004 was estimated at 87,349 fish, a 13.3% increase compared to the 1999-2003 average April-September salmonine harvest. This increase was due entirely to Chinook salmon which was the most commonly harvested species in 2004, with a April-September estimate of 51,443 fish. This was the highest Chinook salmon harvest observed since 1994, and a 97.5% increase compared to the 1999-2003 average Chinook harvest. Yellow perch harvest was also up in 2004 with an April-September estimate of 18,380 fish. This was the third highest yellow perch harvest among the years censused (only 1985 and 1986 were higher), and a 107.0% increase compared to the 1999-2003 average perch harvest. In contrast to Chinook salmon and yellow perch, estimated harvests of other species in 2004 were all down compared to their respective 1999-2003 averages; rainbow trout (-6.4%), brown trout (-26.8%), Coho salmon (-41.4%), walleye (-42.3%), smallmouth bass (-49.3%), lake trout (-57.4%), and Atlantic salmon (-77.1%). Conversations with anglers suggested that declines in some of these species, especially the other salmonine species, may have been due in part to the excellent Chinook salmon fishing. Boat anglers specifically targeted Chinook salmon to a greater extent in 2004, and spent less time fishing for other species.

Trout and salmon and smallmouth bass fishing quality, as measured by harvest rates, was below average in 2004 for all species except Chinook salmon. The trout and salmon harvest rate among boats seeking trout and salmon was 1.51 fish per boat trip, the highest April-September trout and salmon harvest rate observed since 1998, and 14.0% higher than the 1999-2003 average April-September harvest rate. However, this increase was due entirely to Chinook salmon. The 2004 Chinook salmon harvest rate was 0.89 fish per boat trip, a record high April-September Chinook harvest rate among the years censused, and a 95.7% increase compared to the 1999-2003 average. The most important increases in 2004 Chinook salmon harvest rates compared to their respective 1999-2003 averages occurred in the months of May (+238.9%), July (+184.6%), and August (+77.1%, and normally an important month with high fishing effort). The second highest salmonine harvest rate in 2004 was observed for brown trout, with an April-September estimate of 0.29 fish per boat trip. This was the fifth lowest brown trout harvest rate among the years censused, and a 26.2% decrease compared to the 1999-2003 average. Monthly brown trout harvest rates in 2004 were all below their respective 1999-2003 averages, except for June, with the most important monthly decreases occurring in April (-26.3%) and May (-41.6%). Rainbow trout harvest rate ranked third in 2004 among the salmonines with an April-September estimate of 0.20 fish per boat trip, nearly equal to (4.0% below) the 1999-2003 average rainbow trout harvest rate. Monthly estimates of rainbow trout harvest rates in 2004 were all moderately below their respective 1999-2003 averages, except for May, which was 103.5% above its 1999-2003 average. Lake trout harvest rate ranked fourth in 2004 among the salmonines with an April-September estimate of 0.07 fish per boat trip. This was the lowest lake trout harvest rate among the 20 years censused, and a 57.3% decrease compared to the 1999-2003 average. Monthly estimates of lake trout harvest rates in 2004 were all well below their respective 1999-2003 averages, except for July, which was only 3.3% below its 1999-2003 average. Coho salmon had the fifth ranked salmonine harvest rate in 2004 with an April-September estimate of 0.06 fish per boat trip. This was the fourth lowest Coho salmon harvest rate among the years censused, and 39.7% below the 1999-2003 average rate. Monthly estimates of Coho salmon harvest rates in 2004 were all well below their respective 1999-2003 averages, except for August, which was only 6.5% below its 1999-2003 average. Atlantic salmon have become increasingly rare in the open lake boat fishery in recent years. Only one Atlantic salmon was observed in 2004, resulting in an April-September harvest rate of 0.0003 fish per boat trip. The smallmouth bass harvest rate in June-September 2004 among boats seeking smallmouth bass was 1.44 fish per boat trip. Although higher than any of the individual salmonine harvest rates, this was the third lowest smallmouth harvest rate among the years censused, and 34.8% below the average 1999-2003 harvest rate. Monthly estimates of smallmouth bass harvest rates in 2004 were all below their respective 1999-2003 averages, with the most important decreases occurring in July (-49.1%) and September (-53.6%).

Smallmouth Bass	2.410	2.256	3.387	1.557	1.655	2.156	3.332	1.122

Smallmouth Bass	2.204	1.712	2.947	2.539	1.920	1.401	2.200	1.435