In partnership with Erie, Chautauqua and Niagara counties, the EC Fishery Advisory Board and DEP updated the existing paper “Erie and Niagara Hotspot Fishing Map” to cover the shoreline of all three counties as well as to identify additional fish locations and species.
Maps were printed in early 2016 and distributed through bait tackle shops, fishing organizations, the Fishery Advisory Board, and visitor bureaus in all three counties.
Recognizing a need to establish an online presence and reach other audiences more effectively and efficiently, the Fishery Advisory Board and the Department of Environment and Planning put out an RFP for an online version of the Hotspot fishing map.
An agreement Erie County entered into last fall with MRF Geosystems led to the construction of the internet mapping tool, which was evaluated by local fishing captains to measure ease of use and functionality. Various updates were made over the past few months that helped to produce an online map that can be used by anyone who wants to fish in Lake Erie.
Features include:
- finding potential fishing locations,
- locating nearby boat launches,
- measuring distances and water depth,
- identifying charter captains and researching local marinas,
- bait and tackle shops
- and other resources utilized by fishing enthusiasts.
This application, accessible at https://wnyfishing.mrf.com, is usable on desktop computers, tablets, and other mobile devices.
For the full press release by Erie County Executive Poloncarz, please click here.
Additional information about WNY fishing is available here: http://www2.erie.gov/hotspot/