Prospect Park Lake Fishery Summary
In October of both 2008 and 2010, DEC Region 2 Fisheries staff performed electrofishing surveys of Prospect Park Lake in Brooklyn. Objectives of these surveys were to:
- Document fish species assemblages
- Estimate catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) for targeted fish species
- Assess predator-prey relationships through the use of stock density indices
- Sample largemouth bass and sunfish for NYSDEC's statewide fish disease surveillance (2010 survey)
Fish species as determined during 2008 and 2010 fishery surveys are as follows:
| Species | Percent of Total Catch in 2008 |
Percent of Total Catch in 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| largemouth bass | 24.0 | 29.75 |
| pumpkinseed | 18.48 | 20.11 |
| bluegill | 37.38 | 36.20 |
| brown bullhead | 0.14 | 0 |
| yellow perch | 1.24 | 1.59 |
| black crappie | 6.07 | 4.58 |
| golden shiner | 11.86 | 6.74 |
| common carp | 0.83 | 0.18 |
Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was estimated for targeted species and is shown in the table below for the 2008 and 2010 electrofishing surveys. CPUE is provided for stock length.
| Species | Max Wt (lb) 2008 |
Max Wt (lb) 2010 |
CPUE 2008 |
CPUE 2010 |
Stock Length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| largemouth bass | 5.1 | 4.1 | 54.8 | 79.7 | 8 |
| pumpkinseed | 0.5 | 0.4 | 101.9 | 67 | 3 |
| bluegill | 0.4 | 0.4 | 202.9 | 117.6 | 3 |
| yellow perch | 0.5 | 0.5 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 5 |
| black crappie | 0.8 | 1.0 | 16.3 | 12.1 | 5 |
In 2010, largemouth bass at or above 12 inches in length composed nearly 38% of captured mature bass while fish at or above 15 inches composed nearly 18% of captured mature bass. In 2008, these numbers were 47% and 23%, respectively. Despite the slight decrease in percentages, stock density indices calculated from both the 2008 and 2010 survey data indicate the largemouth bass and sunfish populations of Prospect Park Lake have a well-balanced predator-prey relationship. Comparison of young versus adult largemouth bass suggests that bass reproduction is neither too low nor excessive.
The DEC Bureau of Fisheries has been conducting disease surveillance of wild fish populations throughout New York State since 2007. Results for Prospect Park Lake fish tested in 2010, as part of this surveillance, were found to be negative for four diseases including Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS).
Printable report (PDF) (68 kB)
