SEBAGO — There will be an experimental drop-off point on Sebago Lake this year, where angler can deposit surplus or unwanted togue. The surplus togue will be used as food for wildlife rehabilitators and other purposes.
The drop-off station is at Jordan’s Store on Route 114, west shore of Sebago Lake. Drop-off hours are the same as the store hours, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m..
“This is a win-win situation to help reduce the togue population in Sebago and help our local rehab people with the wonderful work they do,: organizers said. “So, when you fish for togue in Sebago please do not ‘put back’ your surplus or unwanted togue. Get them to Jordan’s Store.”
All fish need to be bagged and tagged with angler’s name and date the fish were caught. This is a pilot program and only for Sebago Lake togue.
The program came out of meetings with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Sebago Lake focus group. The purpose of the 2019 meeting, which was reconvened from a 2011 meeting, was to discuss recent changes in the lake’s fishery and proposed changes in fishery management, particularly in relation to an overpopulation of togue and problems associated with a lack of forage fish. MDIFW proposed more liberal regulations on lake trout, which took effect Jan. 1.
The group also discussed changes in angler harvest and the idea that many anglers today simply fish for recreation and release their surplus or unwanted togue alive. The group and state officials felt there was clearly a need to develop some new and creative outlets for these fish that would encourage harvest.
