2005 Yellow Perch spawning assessment

Yellow perch spawning and egg deposition survey in Lake Michigan waters near Green Can Reef, Milwaukee - 2005

Yellow perch spawning assessment, Green Can Reef – 2005

In 2005, only two samples were taken – one on 5/25/2005 and the other on 6/01/2005. The spawning activity peaked by 6/01/05 with the majority of females spent at this time. We added a 100 ft panel of 3 inch mesh net along with 2, 2.25 and 2.75 inch mesh panels in order to capture fast growing 1998 year-class yellow perch (average total length: male, 263 mm; female, 304 mm). Both samples were taken at 50 - 55 ft of water. The bottom temperature ranged from 47 – 49 0F.

Sampling date	Number (all)	Number (male)	Number (female)
May 25th	987	953	34
June 1^st	284	254	30

Age distribution: 110 yellow perch were aged using anal spine. Although the 1998 year-class perch dominated the spawning population (69%), 2001 and 2002 year-class perch are starting to contribute with 16% and 11%, respectively.

2005 – yellow perch egg deposition survey:

The WDNR dive team continued the effort using the protocol similar to 2003 to quantify egg deposition in the Green Can Reef area.

2005 Diving for yellow perch egg deposition
Date	Divers	Depth	Location	Area searched	# of egg masses
June 7	Mike B.	50 - 60	SE of Green Can	30	39
	Brad E.			30	42
June 7	Cheryl P.	35 - 50	East of Green Can	20	32
	Tim K.			20	44
June 7	Brad E.	27 - 35	West of Green Can	30	8
	Mike B.			30	10
June 8	Brad E.	50 - 52	East of Green Can	30	56
	Mike B.			30	57
June 8	Brad E.	35 - 52	East and South of Green Can	24	31
	Tim K.			24	25
June 8	Mike B.	38 - 45	East and South of Green Can	24	25
	Cheryl P.			24	18
June 13	Brad E.	54 - 70	East of Green Can	28	9
	Mike B.			28	24
June 13	Tim K.	53 - 62	East of Green Can	16	2
	Mike N.			16	0
June 13	Cheryl P.	40 - 52	East of Green Can	24	29
	Mike N.			24	42

Total Area searched = 41,988 m²

Total eggs found = 493

Egg masses per 1000 m² = 11.74