John Netto was invited by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Fisheries Team meeting to review the most recent data from the Green Bay yellow perch fishery and surveys. 

The commercial and recreational fishery monitoring data indicate that the large 2003 year class accounted for nearly all of the recreational and commercial yellow perch harvest in 2006. 

Prior to the large hatch of yellow perch from the 2003 year class, the population had been at very low levels since the mid-1990’s. 

The stock assessment model also shows that the 2002 and 2004 year classes (though dwarfed by the 2003 year class) are among the largest recruitment classes in the last 15 years. 

The Wisconsin DNR, has been using the available data and safe mortality limits to allow an increased fishery while trying to maintain a healthy population of yellow perch in the bay.