The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding anglers this season that regulations on the targeting and harvest of lake sturgeon are in effect.
Anglers on the ice targeting walleye or any other fish may accidentally find themselves with a lake sturgeon on the line.
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Fishing for lake sturgeon on most waters in Michigan is prohibited, and any lake sturgeon caught must be released immediately.
What is a lake sturgeon?
Lake sturgeon is the only sturgeon species found in the Great Lakes. They are unique in appearance and characteristics with five rows of bony plates, called scutes, on their backs and sides, as well as whisker-like barbels near their mouths.
They are often called “living fossils” or “dinosaur fish.” Lake Sturgeon first appeared in the fossil record in the Mesozoic Era, which was 100 million to 150 million years ago. Some lake sturgeon have been documented to live more than 100 years old.
Lake Sturgeon are freshwater fish native to Michigan and found in North America through the Great Lakes, Mississippi and Hudson River basins.
Due to overfishing, habitat loss and degradation, the DNR said lake sturgeon populations in Michigan began to decline in the 1800s.
Why are lake sturgeon protected?
In 1994, Michigan listed lake sturgeon as a threatened species due to its declining population. The DNR has since partnered with state, federal and tribal agencies to rehabilitate lake sturgeon in the state.
The Michigan DNR and its partners work to stock lake sturgeon in several rivers and lakes in the state as part of its rehabilitation strategy. The lake sturgeon is then raised in streamside rearing facilities, which naturally produced eggs or larval lake sturgeon are captured in their birthplace streams. The eggs or larval are brought into the rearing facilities to protect them from predators while still “imprinting” on the stream or river.
The DNR said this process helps increase their survival and the chances the sturgeon will return to the stream or river as mature adults to reproduce.
Where can anglers target sturgeon?
Anglers can catch lake sturgeon in Michigan in only specified water during designated seasons. Lake sturgeon may be targeted in some areas but must be released immediately.
Waters with sturgeon possession seasons include the following:
- Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River
- Otsego Lake
- Menominee River
Waters with sturgeon fishing seasons (catch-and-release only) include the following:
- Detroit River
- St. Marys River
- Portage Lake and Torch Lake
- Ontonagon River
According to the DNR, it’s illegal to fish for lake sturgeon in all other water in Michigan.
Sturgeon are frequently caught incidentally in Saginaw Bay, the Saginaw River, the Kalamazoo River, the Grand River, Muskegon Lake, the Muskegon River, Manistee Lake and the Manistee River, but cannot be targeted in those waters — the DNR anglers should be aware of the possibility of incidental lake sturgeon catch and of these regulations.
The DNR said that if a lake sturgeon is accidentally caught, it must be released immediately because fish gills can freeze quickly when temperatures are below freezing.
“We know that encountering a fish as iconic as the lake sturgeon is a memorable moment for most anglers, but even the time you take to snap a photo can be extremely detrimental to the fish’s health and survival,” said Jeffrey Jolley, Southern Lake Huron unit manager with the DNR Fisheries Division. “A prompt release ensures a healthy sturgeon.”
How to report a sturgeon harvest
Lake sturgeon harvest is limited to one fish per angler per license year.
The DNR said if an angler harvests a lake sturgeon, they are required to report the harvest within 24 hours. Lake Sturgeon can be reported online, by phone at 888-636-7778 or in person at any DNR customer service center.
To report a harvest in person, visit a customer service center during normal business hours and provide advance notice of your arrival by calling ahead.
Anglers can also report catch and release of lake sturgeon using the lake sturgeon form at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
To report illegal harvest or targeting of lake sturgeon, call or text the Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800 or complete the Report All Poaching form at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
For more information on lake sturgeon visit Michigan.gov/Sturgeon or visit the DNR’s Lake Sturgeon Management page for details on management and restoration efforts in Michigan.
