Commercial fishing, which once flourished in Lake Erie, has declined during the 20th century. Only 4,733,000 lb of fish, worth $2,618,000, were landed in 1998, up from 3,980,000 lb and $917,000 in 1984, but far from the record catch of 31,083,000 lb in 1936.
A statewide fish hatchery system annually produces and stocks up to 30 million fry and yearling size fish—mostly walleye, saugeye, trout, catfish, bass, sunfish, muskellunge, and pike. In 1998 the state issued 1,144,261 sport fishing licenses.