OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – The 2015 sturgeon spearing season in Wisconsin is officially underway.
Thousands of anglers are sprinkled along parts of Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes in hopes of catching themselves a sturgeon.
Wisconsin DNR officials say over 13,000 licenses were sold for this season, which is a new record. Officials also increased the harvest cap this year 6 percent for adult females, which generally will close down the season.
Earlier this week, DNR Sturgeon Biologist Ryan Koenigs says they believe that it could be a quick season due to good water clarity across much of the region.
With bitter cold temperatures, officials are urging spearers to register their sturgeon as soon as possible. They say it won’t take long for the fish to freeze making it more difficult to determine the age, sex and reproductive stage of the fish.
There are 11 sturgeon registration stations around the Lake Winnebago system.
The season is scheduled to run for 16 days, or until the limit is reached. Last year the season ended after less than a week.
(Additional reporting from FOX 11).
