Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Sets 2012 Walleye and Yellow Perch Limits

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced that the 2012 creel limits for Lake Erie yellow perch will be remain at 30 per day and walleye will remain at six per day. Earlier this year, the PFBC adopted new regulations establishing adaptive creel limits for walleye and yellow perch based on the annual quotas established by the Lake Erie Committee, which consists of fisheries managers from Pa., Ohio, N.Y., Mich., and Ontario, Canada. “Adaptive fishing regulations are based on the most recent fishery assessment results and are better aligned with the current status of the yellow perch and walleye stocks,” said Chuck Murray, the PFBC’s Lake Erie biologist. “This regulatory flexibility gave fisheries managers the ability to change daily harvest limits prior to the onset of the summer boat fishing season on Lake Erie.” Murray said this year’s assessment showed that both yellow perch and walleye populations remain stable. Based on this, the creel limits are being held at the 2011 limits.