Six Fathom Bank and Yankee Reef Gillnet and Beam Trawl Data 1991-2022

Annual spring/summer (May-July) and fall (October) gillnet assessment surveys and spring/summer young-of-year (YOY) lake trout beam trawl surveys were conducted by researchers at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) in central Lake Huron on two offshore reefs, Six Fathom Bank and Yankee Reef. The spring/summer and fall gillnet assessment took place between 1991- 2022 and 1991-1998, respectively. The beam trawl survey took place from 1993-2022. Total length, weight, sex, maturity, and sea lamprey wounds were recorded for each lake trout and burbot caught in the gill nets. Lake trout were aged: (1) by decoding information on an extracted coded wire tag; (2) using fin clip information; or (3) enumerating annuli on a maxilla bone. Burbot and lake whitefish were aged by enumerating annuli on an otolith. Catch of all species have been recorded for each of the gill nets that have been set.