Angler Earns $100,000 in Five Months for Catching Pikeminnows
Keith Lusher 10.18.23
Bounty programs to deal with problematic species of fish are popular ways for states to remove certain types of fish that threaten the native species. I’m sure there are several in your state if you care to do some digging into which fish the Wildlife and Fisheries Department deems a threat. While these programs are meant to serve as motivation for harvesting the targeted troublesome fish, some can be turned into full-time pay.
According to the Bonneville Power Administration, which is in charge of funding the program, there was a $100,000 payout to the top harvester of Pikeminnow during the 2023 season. The season stretches from May 1 to September 30 and during these 5 months, the top angler brought in over 10,000 Pikminnows which landed him the huge payout. This is only the third time in over 30 years that a payout of $100,000 has been achieved.
The Northern Pikeminnow Sport-reward Program has been in existence for over 30 years and was enacted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It was designed to reduce the population of northern pikeminnow in the Columbia and Snake River basins in the Pacific Northwest.
The Northern Pikeminnow are known to be significant predators of juvenile salmon and steelhead, which are highly prized by fishermen in Washington and Oregon.
Eric Winther, with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the overall participation for this year was 11,954 which is the most seen in three years and nearly 1,400 more than last year’s lowest-ever effort of 10,561.
The second-best angler earned $98,510 for 9,786 fish, almost breaking the $100,000 mark.
Anglers that participate in the program can earn $6, $8 or $10 for each Pikeminnow they catch, however, there is one caveat: the fish has to be over nine inches long. Also, the system pays out more money when numerous fish are turned in so the more fish the angler brings in, the more money he receives for each fish. In addition, there is a reward for those who catch tagged fish. $500 is the payout for catching a tagged fish and $200 for each internally tagged fish that is brought in.
Details on how to register for the program and applicable state fishing regulations are available on the program website. Anglers will find resources on the site, including maps, how-to videos, and free fishing clinics, to help boost their fishing game.
For more information about the 2023 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery visit www.pikeminnow.org, or call 800-858-9015.
