The Department of Natural Resources expects the Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing season to last its full length, while Upriver Lakes spearing has officially ended. Officials discussed spearing numbers during a Thursday morning press conference.
Tom Meronek, the Oshkosh Team Fisheries Supervisor, started the conversation by explaining that the Upriver Lakes spearing season has, in fact, ended. “To close that season, we actually hit the 90% trigger on Monday, the 14th, and the season closed on the 15th.”
He added details about the 349 sturgeon that were harvested during the Upriver Lakes season, breaking the figures down to 45 juvenile females, 88 adult females, and 216 adult males.
On Lake Winnebago, the spears have harvested 93 juvenile females, 285 adult females, and 248 males.
The fish have been impressive in size, with the department seeing 45 fish harvested that each weighed over 100 lbs. The largest fish to be harvested this season was a 75″ long 150.1 lb. female out of Lake Winnebago on Feb. 15. The Upriver Lakes’ biggest catch was not quite as heavy, but was still no slouch as a 79″ long 148.2 lb. fish was harvested.
Based on ongoing numbers compared to usual trends, the Department of Natural Resources anticipates the Lake Winnebago spearing season to last the full 16 days, ending Feb. 27.
More information about sturgeon spearing season can be found online at the Department of Natural Resources’ online hub dedicated to the season.
