Yellow Perch in South Dakota: Population Variability and Predicted Effects of Creel Limit Reductions and Minimum Length Limits

Abstract

We collected annual gill-net samples of yellow perch Perca flavescens in six South Dakota lakes over 4–5 years. We also simulated the effects of reductions in daily creel limits for yellow perch (i.e., from 25 fish/angler to 5, 10, or 15 fish/angler) and use of minimum total length limits (229 and 254 mm). Population indices varied widely among lakes and among years within lakes to the extent that indices from any individual year were largely uninformative. Creel surveys indicated that few anglers typically achieved a daily creel limit of 25 yellow perch. Except in Waubay Lake, lowering the creel limit from 25 to 5 fish/angler would be necessary to achieve harvest reductions of 25% or more within most of the fisheries we examined. Minimum length limits were projected to improve size and age structure, but harvest reductions often exceeded 50% and yield declined or only slightly increased (by ≤13%). Yellow perch in these lakes had achieved much of their full growth potential by the time they reached 229 and 254 mm. Consequently, although length limits were predicted to increase age and size structures, asymptotic growth prevented yellow perch from attaining substantially larger sizes. Length limits were predicted to be most beneficial when fishing mortality represented most of the total mortality in each population and when growth occurred at median or fast rates. A 229-mm length limit was predicted to improve size and age structures with less-severe reductions in harvest or yield than a 254-mm limit. Population dynamics and the harvest-oriented nature of yellow perch anglers may dictate that yield maximization is still a reasonable management goal for many South Dakota yellow perch fisheries. Increasing the number of yellow perch that attain 229 mm is possible for certain fisheries if angler harvest represents the dominant source of mortality.