Catch and effort statistics for the sockeye salmon sport fishery during the late run to the Russian River with estimates of escapement, 1995

Description

A direct expansion creel survey of the late-run Russian River recreational fishery was conducted from 12 July-20 August 1995 to determine angler effort for and harvest of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka. Anglers expended 71,125 (SE = 6,015) hours to harvest 11,986 (SE = 1,072) sockeye salmon from the late run. The harvest rate for this fishery was 0.169 sockeye salmon per hour of angler effort. Approximately 85% of the total fish harvested during the late run were taken from the confluence area of the fishery. During the late run, 61,982 sockeye salmon bound for spawning areas were counted through the weir at the outlet of Lower Russian Lake. This total exceeds the escapement goal of 30,000 sockeye salmon that has been established for the late run by the Board of Fisheries. An estimated 73,968 sockeye salmon returned to the Russian River during the 1995 late run. Predominant age groups of the recreational harvest and the escapement were 2.3- and 2.2-age fish. The majority of the fish harvested in the confluence area were age 2.3 (45%) and 2.2 (30%). The river area harvest comprised ages 2.3 (38%) and 2.2 (36%). Sockeye salmon that escaped through the weir at the outlet of Lower Russian Lake were mainly age 2.2 (32%) and 2.3 (32%). The age composition of the harvest did not change significantly (P > 0.23) over time between the confluence and the river areas of the recreational fishery. However, the age composition of the river area harvest did vary significantly over time (P = 0.05). Data from the confluence area and the river area were not combined because of the significant differences in age class composition of the river harvest. Age composition of the escapement through the weir differed from that of the harvest (P < 0.01), and differed between the two temporal strata (P < 0.01). Estimated age composition of the total late return (harvest plus escapement) was predominantly age-2.2 and age-2.3 sockeye salmon (34% and 32%, respectively). A stream survey indicated that a minimum of 12,479 sockeye salmon spawned in the Russian River downstream from the Russian River falls. Carcass sampling indicated that the most abundant age group (1.3) comprised 72.9% of the population that spawned downstream from the falls.

Subjects

Series Statement

• Fishery data series -- no. 97-1.

Links

• URL