Coho Salmon Coho salmon stocking has remained relatively stable for 50 years. There has been some movement of fish in the Grand River system to increase survival, and this has resulted in better fishing. Coho salmon are becoming more important in the fishery, especially when Chinook salmon numbers are down. The average cost was $47 per fish harvested in 2016. They can produce fall fisheries in ports and rivers that either don’t have or are limited in wild Chinook salmon runs. Stocking changes should consider moving stocking sites downstream and increasing ports to the south where there is a lack of wild production. The main risk to consider is how many coho salmon need to be stocked in Platte River to maintain broodstock for Michigan and other states. The options are 1) status quo or same as 2017; 2) move coho downstream in the Grand river; 3) Reduce Platte River by 50,000 and stock Saugatuck; 4) Reduce Platte by 50,000 and move 30,000 out of the St. Joe River and stock both Saugatuck and Muskegon (Indiana is increasing yearling Coho stocking in the St. Joe so there should be similar total numbers in the St. Joe as in 2017); 5) Reduce Platte River by 75,000 and stock Saugatuck, Muskegon, and increase Escanaba. Below are some options to consider for Coho Stocking: Site Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Option 5 Escanaba River 26,259 26,259 26,259 26,259 51,259 Boardman River 87,530 87,530 87,530 87,530 87,530 Platte River 800,000 800,000 750,000 750,000 725,000 Manistee River 87,530 87,530 87,530 87,530 87,530 Sable River 43,765 43,765 43,765 43,765 43,765 Muskegon 0 0 0 40,000 40,000 Grand River (Lansing) 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 Grand River (Lyons) 200,719 100,719 100,719 100,719 100,719 Rogue River 25,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 Grand River (Ada) 0 90,000 90,000 90,000 90,000 Saugatuck 0 0 50,000 40,000 40,000 St. Joe River (Berrien Springs) 131,295 131,295 131,295 101,295 101,295 Galien River 21,883 21,883 21,883 21,883 21,883 Total 1,473,981 1,473,981 1,473,981 1,473,981 1,473,981
Mike these are proposed Coho stocking for the state of Michigan for 2018-2019. Notice the Platte numbers. One river stocking 700,000 to 800,000 Coho compared to the rest of Michigan. Wisconsin for an example just recently moved up to 500,000 Coho for the entire state.
But I guess time will give us a better look at what is going on with the Coho, as I think they are slated to be the next study fish. Nose tags and clips. For a 5 year study.