Wild Things: Millions of Pounds of Surplus Whitefish in Lower Green Bay

Fresh, sustainable Door County lake whitefish is a popular item in many local fish markets and restaurants. Although some fish are still caught on the lake side of the peninsula, the real hot spot for whitefish in recent years is deep water in Green Bay. Photo courtesy of Henriksen Fisheries.

Door County commercial fisher Charlie Henriksen said there’s even more lake whitefish in Green Bay than we reported here last week. Henriksen was quoted as saying that the harvestable whitefish surplus in Green Bay was more than a million pounds and could be split between commercial and sport fishers. 

On Monday, he called to clarify that the estimated annual surplus is actually more than two million pounds. 

“The commercial whitefish fishery in Green Bay currently has an annual quota of 362,000 pounds,” Henriksen said. “The recent DNR [Department of Natural Resources] stock assessment says there’s an annual harvestable surplus of 1.17 million pounds, and another 1.17 million pounds reserved for the sport fishery.”

Commercial fishing interests are in their third year of sponsoring and conducting studies of Green Bay whitefish in conjunction with UW-Stevens Point, UW-Green Bay and UW Sea Grant to fill information gaps created by years of the DNR not monitoring the commercial fishery, Henriksen said. 

“All results to date are positive, and a UW-GB grad student is working full time on this now,” he said. “After all this work, why would we not pass a scope statement to utilize it?”

Public comments on that statement – relating to future permanent rules for Lake Michigan whitefish management and Great Lakes commercial harvest reporting – were due Wednesday. 

But that’s just the first hurdle in what could be a two-plus-year process. The 30-month time frame for submitting a new rule to the legislature expires Oct. 27, 2022.

The Lake Michigan Commercial Fishing Board recently listed the scope statement as its top priority, and the state’s Natural Resources Board (NRB) will consider it during its June 24 meeting. 

Historically, many whitefish that commercial fishers caught were from the North Bay and Moonlight Bay spawning stock. However, during the past decade, the west shore of Green Bay tributaries – primarily the Fox and Menominee rivers – have been producing a large number of whitefish. 

Whether pan-fried, baked, broiled, smoked or boiled, whitefish are delicious. The population is of high value to sport anglers during the winter, and to commercial netters throughout the year.

“The commercial quota has historically been unified for the entire bay and lake, with social divisions to prevent large shifts in effort,” Henriksen said. “The time has come to address these issues and upgrade the management to reflect current conditions.”

Henriksen said this is greatly complicated in the northern bay and lake by the permanent nature of the allocations and the tremendous investments that are required to participate. He believes such issues can be addressed under the scope statement. 

If approved, the DNR will work with commercial and sport fishers, the state’s commercial fishing board and the public on any future regulation changes related to lake whitefish management or reporting requirements.

Also during its June 24 meeting, the NRB will also be asked to approve the 2020 bow, crossbow and gun deer hunting season structure, and it will receive an update on the status and management of the eastern population of sandhill cranes. Review the full agenda, and find a link to listen in at dnr.wi.gov/About/NRB/2020/06-June.

Great American Outdoors Act

Representatives from more than 100 outdoor businesses have signed a letter to Senate leadership urging the swift passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to stimulate the outdoor-recreation industry.

The GAOA would provide a critical boost to what was – before the pandemic – a $778-billion-a-year industry that supports 5.2 million jobs and accounts for 2.2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. 

According to Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s most recent member survey, 94 percent of outdoor-industry businesses have experienced a decrease in sales, and 88 percent have laid off or furloughed a portion of their workforce. 

The businesses, including such heavyweights as Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s and Pure Fishing, asked Senate leaders to pass the GAOA as soon as possible. It would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million annually, providing more recreation access for communities across the country and fueling more outdoor-recreation economic activity. It would also dedicate up to $9.5 billion during the next five years for backlogged projects on public lands and waters. 

Kids’ Fishing Contest

The 35th annual Kids’ Fishing Derby at Little Lake in Sturgeon Bay will be held as a photo contest on Father’s Day (June 21), 11 am – 2 pm. If a child catches a fish, text a photo and the angler’s name, address, phone number and age to 920.495.6551 or 920.495.6552. Including a ruler in the photo to show the measurement is recommended. Prizes will be awarded curbside at Sunset Park. 

Superior Fishing Meeting

The Wisconsin DNR is holding a virtual meeting June 23, 6 pm, on Lake Superior creel survey results and bycatch monitoring during commercial fishing. Members of the public can access the meeting on Skype or by calling 866.715.6499 and entering the passcode 8395854504#.