New Rule Meets Opposition For Limiting Lake Trout Bag Near Apostle Islands

The state’s Natural Resources Board approved a new lake trout rule last week for anglers harvesting around the Apostle Islands area of Lake Superior.

Resource managers said the three-bag limit on daily catch is one most can live with for now, but not all factions are happy with the decision.

George Meyer, of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, said sportsmen are angry the state didn’t clue them in on the change. He testified at last week’s board meeting.

“If this area is open to commercial fishing, it will largely preclude sport fishing in that area,” Meyer said.

Red Cliff Tribal biologist Chad Abel said the harvest quota under the new rule went up slightly from 50,000 to 56,000 lake trout.

“The (state Department of Natural Resources) has their allocation of lake trout tags that they’re free to use at their discretion as long as they remain within their quota that they have set and we have set together,” he said.

Abel said the tribe doesn’t see any biological reason to close off the area to any commercial fishers.

“The proximity to Bayfield and where a lot of our fishermen leave from is obviously an asset to the tribe that commercial fishing can occur there,” said Abel.

Despite the increase, Wisconsin DNR Lake Superior Fisheries supervisor Terry Margenau said everyone is harvesting fewer fish. He said sportsmen are taking around 5,000 less on average.

“The comment that I think I got more than anything is we can live with that — the two lake trout plus the one over 40 (inches),” he said.

Even so, Margenau said the rule sets a more aggressive harvest than last year and could result in an early close to the season if they reach the quota. The season ends at the end of next September.