Sturgeon, a behemoth among fish with a lineage dating back to the age of dinosaurs, could soon be methodically pursued by anglers armed with a new set of regulations in Michigan—if the state's Natural Resource Commission nods approval. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has floated a plan to squarely place a catch-and-immediate-release season for lake sturgeon on the angling calendar, potentially stretching from June 2026 through March 2027 on a stretch of the Menominee River.
As per the Detroit Free Press, DNR chiefs have proposed shortening the popular—but brief—sturgeon season on Black Lake from the current five-day window to just three days. This proposed amendment seems to straighten out the kinks for a department grappling with logistical hurdles—think travel, overtime, and that old chestnut, budgetary constraints. "With the current season, there is a potential for it to last up to five days, which would be extremely challenging for statewide staff (fisheries and law enforcement) to stay longer than a one- or two-day season due to travel, overtime and overall budgetary issues," the DNR division chiefs stated in a proposed fisheries order.
Meanwhile, over on FOX 2 Detroit, we get the lowdown on the weight behind the proposed regulations. Both local law enforcement and advisory boards are on board, which could mean a bright green light for changes aimed at tightening one end of the regulatory rope while loosening another. FOX 2 detailed the projected adjustments both at Black Lake, where the mayhem of super swift sturgeon seasons has become local lore, and the Menominee River, where management aims to be streamlined alongside Wisconsin counterparts.
In the far northern reaches, a dialog with Wisconsin fisheries managers seeks to synch up practices between the two states. According to MLive, Wisconsin is already embarking on its regulatory revamp. Under the scope of these revisions, a shared catch-and-release policy for the Menominee River could emerge as a unifying decree, making it simpler for both anglers and law enforcement to abide by a clear-cut set of rules. "This proposal will expand lake sturgeon angling opportunities with a (catch-and-release) season while enacting the same regulation in both states. This will benefit anglers and law enforcement staff resulting in a uniform regulation on the shared waters of the Menominee River," a DNR memo noted.
The near-mythical status of the lake sturgeon in Michigan waters isn't lost on anyone paying attention—least of all the DNR, which has seen sturgeon numbers rise from the shadowy depths of decline thanks to concerted conservation efforts. The door to further change creeps open on September 11, when the Natural Resource Commission convenes again, potentially revamping what sturgeon fishing in Michigan will look like in the years ahead.
