Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Institute for Fisheries Research Report No. 1780, 1971
The Northern Pike in Michigan: A Commentary on Regulations for Fishing
W. C. Latta
Abstract.-The effects of various fishing regulations on northern pike in Michigan were evaluated with a model of a typical population. Typical conditions were created from average growth, mortality, spawning and angling figures from Michigan lakes. Under average conditions it appears that the spawning stock left at the end of a fishing season is more than twice what is needed to maintain a pike population. Prohibiting spearing or a complete ban on winter fishing decreases the yield, with a needless gain in number of spawners, However a ban on winter fishing does result in an increase in fish to be harvested during the summer, but it is necessary to have an increase in fishing pressure or the gain will be lost to natural mortality. An increase in the minimum size limit from the present 20 inches to 22 inches leads to a decrease in yield with a further gain in number of spawners. A decrease in the size limit to l6 inches results in the highest yield of northern pike but leaves a spawning stock considerably below what is judged necessary to maintain the population. Fishing regulations as now extant are not leading to a decrease in northern pike in Michigan. The apparent valid observation that pike are decreasing in abundance in Michigan is probably a result of destruction of their spawning marshes rather than overexploitation through lax regulations.