The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking boaters and anglers to take precautions to avoid the spread of non-native aquatic nuisance species.

“The decisions you make regarding the discarding of your minnows when fishing, and checking your boat, trailer, and motor for plants that could spread zebra mussels, or any unwanted aquatic invader, could help to slow the spread of these nuisance species,” the DNR said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Of special interest to Lake Michigan anglers, the DNR said, is the round goby, which has become a competitor for food with the yellow perch. “Fisherman are reporting times where gobies are being caught instead of perch. It has also been found that gobies are being consumed by salmon.”

The DNR reminds anglers that is it illegal to catch and keep gobies to use as salmon bait. “When gobies are caught, they should be killed and not returned to the water.”

Posted 7/13/2005