Sturgeon Angling Information

An all-species license is required to take and possess lake sturgeon. All anglers shall obtain a non-transferable Lake Sturgeon Fishing Tag prior to fishing for lake sturgeon (available at license vendors). Upon harvesting a lake sturgeon, anglers must validate their Lake Sturgeon Harvest Tag, attach it to the lake sturgeon, and register their harvest within 24 hours (except as noted below) at a designated registration site. For more information check online at www.michigan.gov/fishing. Lake sturgeon harvest is limited to one (1) per year per angler. Harvest of lake sturgeon is limited to the waters below as indicated. Lake sturgeon fishing season information can be found on page 19 (Table 2 Lake Sturgeon) of the Fishing Guide.

Lake Sturgeon Fishing Tag and Harvest Tag Example 
(Tag colors vary each year.)

How to validate your Lake Sturgeon Harvest Tag 

NOTICE: Import and Export Permits are required by Federal Law for transporting sturgeon between the U.S. and Canada.

LAKE STURGEON ANGLING OPPORTUNITIES AND REGULATIONS

Fishing for Lake Sturgeon 
Except on waters where harvest of lake sturgeon is allowed as specifically identified below, fishing for lake sturgeon on all waters of the State shall be catch-and-immediate-release using hook-and-line gear.

Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River (St. Clair, Macomb, and Wayne Counties)

• The hook-and-line harvest season for lake sturgeon shall be July 16 through September 30, inclusive.
• The hook-and-line catch-and-immediate-release season for lake sturgeon shall be October 1 through November 30, inclusive.
• Fishing for lake sturgeon shall be prohibited from December 1 through July 15, inclusive.
• Size Limit: between 42 and 50 inches, inclusive.

Otsego Lake (Otsego Co.)

• The hook-and-line harvest season for lake sturgeon shall be July 16 through March 15, inclusive.
• Fishing for lake sturgeon shall be prohibited from March 16 through July 15, inclusive.
• Size Limit: 50 inches minimum.

Black Lake (Cheboygan Co.)

• The spearing and hook-and-line harvest season for lake sturgeon shall be the first Saturday in February through the following Wednesday, inclusive or until the harvest quota has been reached, whichever comes first.
• Fishing for lake sturgeon shall be prohibited from the end of the harvest season through the first Friday in February, inclusive.
• Size Limit: No minimum size limit.
• Harvest Limit: The total harvest by all anglers combined shall not exceed a set amount of lake sturgeon for each designated year.
• Spearing and hook-and-line fishing for lake sturgeon shall be allowed during specific hours of each day the harvest season remains open as established above.
• Prior to fishing, an angler shall register and obtain a flag. The flag shall be displayed outside the entryway to the shanty being used, and shall be displayed for the entire time of fishing for lake sturgeon each day.
• A lake sturgeon that is harvested shall be immediately tagged with a validated lake sturgeon harvest tag, immediately registered with DNR personnel, and that lake sturgeon shall be subject to internal examination of reproductive organs by the DNR personnel.
• Contact DNR Gaylord office for details 989-732-3541.
• For information on lake sturgeon fishing on Black Lake in Cheboygan County, check out the Frequently Asked Questions document.

Menominee River and Boundary Waters (Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary)

• The hook-and-line harvest season for lake sturgeon shall be the first Saturday in September through September 30, inclusive.
• Fishing for lake sturgeon shall be prohibited from October 1 through the first Friday in September, inclusive.
• For the Menominee River (from Hattie Street Dam to the end of the breakwalls in Green Bay) lake sturgeon harvest is prohibited.
• Size Limit: 60 inches minimum.

All Other Waters of the State

• The hook-and-line, catch-and-immediate-release fishing season shall be July 16 through November 30, inclusive.
• Fishing for lake sturgeon shall be prohibited from December 1 through July 15, inclusive.

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LAKE STURGEON HARVEST REGISTRATION SITES

Southeast Michigan Harvest Registration Sites

Bluewater Bait & Accessories
8089 Dixie Hwy
Fairhaven, MI 48023
(586) 725-1448

Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station
33135 South River Rd
Harrison Twp, MI 48045
(586) 465-4771

Lakeside Fishing Shop
25110 Jefferson
St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
(586) 777-7003

Southfield Michigan DNR Office
26000 W. Eight Mile Rd
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 359-9040

Southeast Michigan After Hours Sturgeon Harvest Registration

Anglers who catch a lake sturgeon during late or early hours when the above registration stations are not open may report their lake sturgeon harvest by contacting either the DNR Southfield Operations Service Center (248) 359-9040 or DNR Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station (586) 465-4771. Please speak carefully, slowly, and clearly while recording catch information on the answering machine. Anglers will need to indicate that they are registering their lake sturgeon for harvest and provide the following information regarding their catch: angler name, tag number (same as license number), address, contact phone number, fish length, weight, girth, date of catch, and waterbody where caught.

Northern Lower Michigan Harvest Registration Sites

Gaylord DNR Office
1732 M-32 West
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 732-3541, ext. 5071

Jay's Sporting Goods
150 Dale Drive
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 705-1339

Otsego Lake Corner Store
4800 West Otsego Lake Drive
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 732-8664

Upper Michigan Menominee River Harvest Registration Sites

Camp Shakey Bait Shop
G12 Shakey Lakes Road
Stephenson, MI 49887
(906) 753-4977

Martin Creek Sport N Feed
Hwy 41
Menominee, MI 49858
(906) 863-4868

Wisconsin Menominee River Harvest Registration Sites

If a lake sturgeon needs to be registered and none of the below stations are open in the Marinette area, call (715) 732-0846 for assistance.

MBK Sport Shop
1509 Main St.
Marinette, WI 54143
(715) 735-5393

Bear Point Yacht Club
Hwy 180
Wausaukee, WI 54177
(715) 856-5092