Initial Effects of Slot Length Limits for Northern Pike in Five North-CentralMinnesota Lakes

摘要

High exploitation of large fish is a likely contributor to poor size structure innorthern pike Esox lucius populations. Protected slot length limit regulations, which protect fish within a specified length range, are potential tools for managing size structure in northern pike populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of protective slot length limits for managing the size structure of northern pike populations. The authors applied experimental slot length limits to northern pike populations in five small north-central Minnesota lakes, then evaluated the regulations after they had been in effect for three to four years.