More than 40M fish stocked in Ohio waters in 2023
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife says it has stocked 40.8 million fish of 11 species in Ohio waters last year.
Fish were stocked during every season at 239 locations statewide.
The Division of Wildlife operates six state fish hatcheries that raise sport fish for stocking in Ohio waters, enhancing recreational opportunities for anglers. Ohio's hatcheries raise saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, rainbow trout, steelhead trout, brown trout, muskellunge, hybrid-striped bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, and bluegill.
According to the ODNR, 29.6 million fry, 10.3 million fingerlings, 237,740 advanced fingerlings, 131,178 catchable fish and 483,597 yearling fish were dropped.
In 2022, anglers generated $5.5 billion in economic spending in Ohio, according to a recent report released by the Wildlife Management Institute, Responsive Management, and Southwick Associates.
The research found that 18% of Ohio's adults, about 1.7 million individuals, participate in fishing, according to ODNR.
