Over the last decade, the Lake Erie walleye population has produced consistently strong hatches resulting in an increase in the number of sub-legal walleye being caught and released by anglers. Survival of these fish is low due to barotrauma (injuries caused from a change in pressure when fish are reeled up from deep water) and results in anglers having to release sub-legal fish that are already dead or not likely to survive.
DEC is in the early stages of evaluating potentially lowering the minimum size limit of walleye in Lake Erie from 15 inches to 12 inches. As a first step, we’re conducting a survey to better determine angler support for this regulation change consideration. Your input will help inform the decision-making process.
Take the Lake Erie Walleye Minimum Size Survey.
The survey deadline is January 27, 2023.
