Walleye:

[AndyS]

Questions about Catch and Release season for Walleye – There is a Catch & Release (C&R) season for Walleye from March 1 through April 30. There are four considerations I would like to lay out. First, it is a misconception that the closed season is intended to protect the actual spawn. NJ Walleye populations are maintained almost exclusively through stocking. Natural recruitment of Walleye has been deemed insignificant to maintain populations. Walleye need adequate forage in NJ and the places we stock have good Alewife populations as forage. However, Alewife actually feed on Walleye fry as well, and literature tells us that Walleye recruitment is limited in lakes with significant Alewife populations. NJ populations are maintained with stocking fingerling Walleye which are too large for Alewives (and several other predators) to consume. The second point is that the C&R season is actually in place to prohibit the exploitation of Walleye that congregate in tributaries to spawn. Years ago, Law Enforcement had issues with anglers catching and/or illegally snagging Walleye from several locations in streams that flow into Walleye stocked waters. These tributaries are also where we set our trap nets that are used to collect broodstock Walleye during their run. Third, we anesthetize Walleye with a chemical referred to as MS-222. This is an approved method that is safe, however specifications indicate that when used on fish, there should be a 21 day withdraw period in which the fish should not be consumed by people. Prohibiting the take during the C&R period allows hatchery staff to release broodstock back into their lake of origin immediately without the concern of human consumption. This third point is not why we have a C&R period, (prevention of exploitation when congregated is), however it allows staff the ability to return the Walleye quickly, without having to hold them for 21 days. Finally, rather than complicate the regulations and have different Walleye regulations on different inland waters based on where they congregate or where we collect broodstock, we have one universal regulation, making the rules easier for anglers. A proposal to remove the C&R season and allow harvest is brought up periodically, but has been dismissed by staff, due primarily to concerns brought forward by the Bureau of Law Enforcement.

[ALS Mako]

Open year round on the delaware river

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by ALS Mako

Open year round on the delaware river

Most likely because they spawn naturally in the Delaware. Thats interesting because both Pa, and NY close Walleye fishing down from March 15 until the first week of May..