Movements of black bass in the Bay of Quinte and eastern Lake Ontario

ELOBB

June 2015 - November 2025

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are a popular game species for catch and release tournaments in Ontario. Tournaments are held at multiple locations in the Bay of Quinte and eastern basin of Lake Ontario exerting heavy fishing pressure on the area. Due to the nature of tournaments, fish are displaced long distances (up to 100 km) multiple times per year, and the effects of this displacement are relatively unknown. The purpose of this study is to narrow the knowledge gap regarding the effects of long distance displacement on Black Bass in the Great Lakes system. Using a gated system of acoustic receivers (VR2W) in the Bay of Quinte and eastern Lake Ontario the movements of 30 Largemouth and 30 Smallmouth Bass will be examined. Of each species, 12 act as controls (caught and released at the same site) and 18 will displaced varying distances to a common tournament release site.

• Examine the effects of long distance displacement due to catch and release tournaments on Black Bass movement Compare time spent in the release area between displaced and control fish Determine whether fish return to capture site post displacement
• Compare time spent in the release area between displaced and control fish
• Determine whether fish return to capture site post displacement, and after what time period

• Bruce Tufts (Queen's University) - tuftsb@queensu.ca
• Mark Ridgway (Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources And Forestry)

• Queen's University
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

• Queen's University