Seneca perch

[Ray4852]

I think we need the state government to change this law. We should get a petition started now and give it to governor Como. He changed the fishing rod limit for us, I’m sure he can get this law changed for us too.

[Frogger]

Hopefully we don't get a response " DEC mandates a voluntary perch limit". On a serious note, this really needed to happen when we went from no limit to 50 without the sale of this fish be prohibited just like any other protected species in NYS. All the change in the qty regulation did was send the Pirates out with a crew vs by themselves or with just a buddy. Do I think one year can damage a fisheries with high catch rates, absolutely, did this happen on Seneca? I'm not so sure. There was a tremendous impact to that entire fishery this past year, not sure why. We have seen this before with yrs to wait for it to be bountiful again. My point I was going to make is when soliciting change, change the regs for statewide not just Seneca, and change it because it's the right thing to do to protect our fisheries not just because your not catching perch this year. Hopefully we'll get a better response than what was received for our deer mgt program.

[sodus_guy_09]

Sodus had this happen. Less than 5yrs ago the spring perch fishing was unreal. Now if you want to catch 5in perch go there but the jumbos are gone. A couple springs of them getting pounded will hurt them.

[rw6788]

Limits are only good for the average fishermen. The commercials do not abide by the limit. I know of catches brought in for sales that exceeded 4 times the limit. These people after after one thing, MONEY !!!!!!!

[john1947]

where do all of these fish get sold,it would be a no brainer for the DEC to catch illegal fish.

[Captain Jim]

I tried perch fishing from shore this afternoon. I went to Sampson and Seneca Lake park along the canal inlet. No perch. In fact I never saw anyone catch anything. It was a great day to be outside.

[rolmops]

where do all of these fish get sold,it would be a no brainer for the DEC to catch illegal fish.

I have seen perch for sale in our local Tops Supermarket.

[perchjerk.jb]

Something else you guys have to realize is there is a cycle with fish. The metric tons of perch that are in Lake Ontario would blow your mind. I remember as a kid from Long Point State Park four miles down the shore to our camp there would be 25 or 30 not strung out from shore out to probably 30 foot of water. the fishing was good then. A lot has changed up there and down the river in the last few years. The perch are deeper and I think it's because the gobies have eaten all of the bait out of the bay. As far as Seneca Lake is concerned I fish that late for 40 years and it has had his abs and flows also. I guess that's why we call it fishing and not catching just my opinion on the matter

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[jcrow75]

I tried perch fishing from shore this afternoon. I went to Sampson and Seneca Lake park along the canal inlet. No perch. In fact I never saw anyone catch anything. It was a great day to be outside.

I was at Sampson yesterday also. Nothing, did see a guy in a boat get a few. That was it. I blame the crazy weather this year. You never know things may pick up.

[2lbperch]

Yes, it cycled a couple times before in my lifetime. Goes from bonanza to bust in 2 years. A carpet of perch looking over the side to none. They are there, just doing unordinarily things. The lake is changing, so does the approach to boat them. Give it 2 or 3 more years and everyone's relative will be back at sampson with bigger sinkers cause the weeds are 80 more yards out. I almost can't wait for the party. Somewhat glad the perch are getting a break. I've searched old haunts for zip, places you wouldn't dream, tight lipped fish. The perch are like stuck-up young girls, you need to find them and dangle something that shines, expensive, or wiggles the right way in thier face to get bit. What that is, almost changes by the minute. Very frustrating. Let the only two I caught today back. Time for downriggers, boards, and browns.

[flyrod2]

Can't agree more that a fishery is a dynamic ecosystem with cycles. Point is there are things we can control like selling fish, creel and size limit, seasons etc.. those things can logically help survive those cycles, especially with adding invasives. Without those controls the flow is downhill. Makes more sense to be proactive rather than reactive. They sell us a recreational sport fishing license for a reason. It is not a catching license to sell fish. That would fall under commercial. Look close at other lake crashes involing perch including lake Michigan which had it's tonage wiped out to point where drastic measures took place. Makes more sense to do all possible to prevent. Just a thought.

[Lund SSS]

I'll chime in and tell you this, after learning a few " new" tactics and spending more time running a camera then fishing. There's still plenty of fish Sunday found a school 300-500 strong and on the larger size of 12"-14" was amazed at the number.....now could I get them to go NOT they were in 55' of water. At the first glimpse of the camera GONE into the abyss. 1/2 mile farther another 50-70 pod . For about a mile they were here and there. All this talk about over fishing seems to be keeping people from just getting out and enjoying the sport. Please stay home and complain about it ....I'll be fishing might not be catching but ...really 1 or 2 trips with 20 or 30 perch and that's all the filets I need in the freezer

[2lbperch]

I agree lund. I spend more camera time watching the fish than I do catching. It's so much fun. You can learn so much if you watch and keep a journal.

[reeldilemma33]

What kind of camera do you guys use?

[2lbperch]

I've got a AQUA VIEW MULTI VU. The controls for the power/lights are in a box you can mount near the controls on the boat. To view I got a pyle 10" vehicle backup camera color monitor screen without sound mounted next to the ff for $70 on amazon on a ram ball mount. It's so much fun seeing the structure you're fishing. Like sodus bay or port bay with the sand bottom, you see why perch are where they are. Crappie are territorial to it and try to defend their spot in the spring. Some days I don't even try to catch a fish. I pull the rig out from a bite seeing how they respond and act. A new dimension to understanding perch quirks. I spend more time absorbing behavior on the screen than I do fishing. It's so much fun for the $. I've spent a lot more on things not as educationally fun.? Except for that one time some time ago.

[Sk8man]

I don't think anyone has said "stay home and don't go fishing anymore".   It is also not the case that there aren't ANY perch still out in the lake but rather that some areas where perch are vulnerable are being too heavily fished (e.g. Sampson marina), over limits are being taken, undersized perch are being harvested, that the sale of them is a problem, and that there are a number of problems with the lake itself that are disturbing.  I have seen the bottom of the lake via friends cameras recently and it does not even remotely resemble the way things have looked over the last 60 plus years during the various "cycles" referred to. I too have seen the bottom carpeted for hundreds of yards in the past and multitudes of weedbeds in the shallows with huge pike, panfish and smallmouth near them. Last week I spoke at length with a recently retired charter captain I used to fish with and have known for over 40 years and he was of the same opinion and he has probably caught more perch than anyone in the Finger Lakes and knows the perch habits as well as anyone.  The problems are for real but there are still fish to be caught out there but before that totally changes for the worse a closer look needs to be taken regarding what is going on out there and some things implemented to lessen the impact where possible. The selling of perch, over harvesting, and keeping grossly undersized perch are things that some things can be acted upon and it is about time to do it. There certainly are times when you can see the perch are fussy and they won't bite no matter what you try and especially in crystal clear water as is often the case now and this has always been the case on Seneca and everywhere else at times for that matter. Sometimes they are just stuffed with other available food like freshwater shrimp etc.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Sk8man

[2lbperch]

Well said sk8. Wish everyone was a stand up steward like you. Don't think we've met yet, like you very much from my short time on this site. X2

[Frogger]

Well said Les, 2lber, stand up guy to say the least, and I won't mention the experience he has in the finger lakes, just hope I can get away from work to learn more from him.... Hint hint..

[justtracytrolling]

Im firm believer that fishermen today want it too easy. However that doesnt have anything to do with why Les wants to take a conservation minded approach. I too believe fishing to be cyclical which i think proves its fragile and being proactive is the key.

[Sk8man]

Thanks guys. Mike you're always welcome on my boat bud. It would be great this season to go after some of those fussy little pecker heads together .  I think this topic is a useful one and perhaps a first step in increasing awareness that there are existing problems as well as potential concerns if we keep doing "business as usual" without taking a close look at things and the possible consequences into the future. We are all in this together regardless of specific viewpoint or perspective.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Sk8man

[john1947]

Well said Les,

It reminds me of the way the state runs things today.Casinos are priority along with lottery galore.Gone is the day of knowing you have a secure job or pension.Its replaced with ,well you might get lucky at the lottery or casinos or the stock market,eeeee..

A little off topic but unfortunately  today's reality..We definitely need new leadership in Albany.Every vote counts.

You and I are retired my goal is to help the younger bunch here enjoy someday what we have..

Then they to can have a lot of time in their latter years to fish to their hearts content.

 

Thanks guys. Mike you're always welcome on my boat bud. It would be great this season to go after some of those fussy little pecker heads together .  I think this topic is a useful one and perhaps a first step in increasing awareness that there are existing problems as well as potential concerns if we keep doing "business as usual" without taking a close look at things and the possible consequences into the future. We are all in this together regardless of specific viewpoint or perspective.

 

[windburn]

X2

[tiogafishaddict]

I remember years ago fishing piers on the west side of seneca as a kid.... there where people everywhere along the cottages hammering the hell out of the perch.... thus was back in the late 80's . I was amazed at the the fishermen lined up before sunrise...

[FishingTheFL]

They still line up before sunrise... just not to many caching

[salmodan]

Nabbed 30 or so at Seneca this morning. Finicky yes. Like fishing in a fishbowl. So calm. Then out came the sun and they went to the depths