Bottom Trawl Explorations in Green Bay of Lake Michigan, 1963-65

A bottom trawling survey was made during 11 cruises operating for 36 days over the 3-year study period. Explorations were made at all possible fishing depths and during 8 months. The 179 exploratory drags made during this study represent the first attempts by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries to determine if bottom trawling in Green Bay is commercially feasible. The overall catch rate was at a level that would be commercially feasible for a trawl fishery based primarily on alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and smelt (Osmerus mordax) and supplemented by catches of suckers (Catostomus catostomus and C. commersoni), carp (Cyprinus carpio), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Game fish were taken infrequently in the trawl, and trawling would not jeopardize sport fishing in Green Bay.