DNR To Begin Yellow Perch Sport Fishing Survey

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ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service will be conducting a sport fishing survey in three selected watersheds beginning in mid-February and continuing through late March. The gathered information from recreational anglers specifically will specifically target yellow perch during their late winter/early spring spawning runs.

“Yellow perch provide Marylanders one of the first opportunities of the year to go fishing,” said Acting Director of the Fisheries Service Harley Speir. “The angler satisfaction information will help us define stakeholder supported management objectives for this fishery, and to develop management strategies to sustain this fishery for future generations.”

Interviewed anglers will be asked a series of questions describing the effort, catch and residence of their yellow perch fishing activity for the day. Anglers will also have to opportunity to voice their opinions and level of satisfaction with the current perch fishery. Interviews will be conducted in the Bush River, the Chester River, Mattawoman Creek and Wicomico River.

In addition to the interview survey, a yellow perch creel site has been established online. This survey, modeled after DNR’s striped bass and summer flounder online surveys is designed to provide yellow perch angler input throughout the entire Bay. Participating anglers will be asked basic questions regarding the day’s locations fished, effort and catch.

The information collected from both surveys will be utilized by the Department regarding future yellow perch management and regulatory decisions as well as the upcoming Yellow Perch Fisheries Management Plan. For more yellow perch information, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/articles/ypmgmnt.html.

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February 20, 20088

Contact: Olivia Campbell 410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov