HARVEST AND MOVEMENT OF ATLANTIC SALMON STOCKED IN THE ST-MARYS RIVER, MICHIGAN

Atlantic salmon, (Salmo salar), were reared from eyed eggs at the Lake Superior State University Aquatic Laboratory and released as yearlings in 1987 and 1988 into the St. Marys River to establish a sport fishery. To study movement, estimate harvest, and determine optimum release size and date all fish were tagged and rewards offered for returned tags. The fish migrated widely, mostly to Lake Huron, and mature fish returned to the release site. Minimum estimates of angler harvest of four lots of fish ranged from 0.26-4.57%, and harvest was generally higher than for earlier Michigan releases of Atlantic salmon in Great Lakes tributaries (0-2%), or Pacific salmon in Lake Huron (0.26-3.1%). Most of the harvest occurred in the St. Marys River (72%), near the release site during June and July, and throughout Lake Huron (26%). Percent angler harvest of age-1 and age-2 fish was positively correlated with size at release for two lots offish released in 1987, but not for fish released in 1988. Percent harvest of age-3 fish was not correlated with size at release for fish released in either year.