A roughly 6-foot lake sturgeon, measured at about 71 inches long, was found dumped along Durham Road at the White River access in Whitehall yesterday, and Michigan conservation officers want to know who put it there. The fish showed apparent injuries and was recovered by officers, who say it may have been illegally taken from nearby waters. Authorities report that a cash reward has been offered for information that leads to an arrest and prosecution.
Discovery And Initial Response
According to MLive, the sturgeon was found sometime between midnight and 5:30 a.m. yesterday on Durham Road near the White River access in Muskegon County. Conservation officers collected the 71-inch fish and turned it over to Michigan Department of Natural Resources investigators, who are now asking for tips from the public. One conservation officer told the outlet that lake sturgeon are such an iconic species, underscoring why this particular case is getting so much attention.
Why Officers Are Alarmed
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources fishing guide notes that lake sturgeon are slow to mature, sometimes taking up to 25 years to reach reproductive age, and that some individuals can live more than 100 years. That long life span and late maturity mean the loss of a large adult can have an outsized impact on local populations and ongoing restoration work. The guide also explains that, outside a few regulated openings, many waters have no lake sturgeon season and it is unlawful to fish for them. The White River is listed as a water with special regulations that are intended to protect sturgeon habitat.
How To Report Tips
Conservation officers are asking anyone with information to contact the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline. The agency’s page states, call or text: 800-292-7800 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The DNR also notes that callers may remain anonymous and that cash rewards have been offered in similar investigations. The agency’s online reporting form outlines the kinds of details that help investigators follow leads, including vehicle descriptions, timeframes, and any available video.
What Investigators Suspect
Investigators told MLive that damage to the fish’s left gill plate suggests it may have been snagged rather than legally caught. Conservation officers say snagging and other harmful methods can seriously injure lake sturgeon and interfere with efforts to restore the species in local rivers. Officers are urging anyone who was near the Durham Road access early Friday to share any dashcam or phone video, along with any vehicle details, with investigators.
Anyone with tips is asked to call or text the DNR RAP hotline at 800-292-7800 or use the agency’s online reporting form. Investigators say even small details, such as a partial vehicle description, an approximate time, or a short video clip, could be valuable to the case.
