(WNFL) – As ice fishing heats up on the Lake Winnebago System, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers to report the incidental catch of round gobies in the lower Fox River above the Rapide Croche Dam, in Little Lake Butte des Morts and in Lake Winnebago.
Round gobies are destructive aquatic invaders and were discovered in Little Lake Butte des Morts immediately below the Neenah Dam in August 2015. The aggressive fish out-compete some native species and pose a significant threat to the ecology of the Winnebago System.
Kendall Kamke, DNR Oshkosh fisheries team supervisor, said anglers in other areas where gobies are well-established occasionally catch them while ice fishing. DNR continues to encourage Winnebago area anglers to report any catches through an online survey tool at http://dnr.wi.gov/u/?q=132 to help determine the extent of gobies in the region and develop a management strategy. The online tool also allows anglers to upload goby photos.
Gobies are on the Chapter NR 40 list as a restricted invasive species and it is illegal to possess, transport, transfer or introduce live gobies, including using them as bait. When gobies are caught, they should be killed and removed from the waterbody.
Anglers who catch a goby on Lake Winnebago, other parts of the Winnebago System or the lower Fox River below the Neenah and Menasha dams are encouraged to kill the fish and freeze it before bringing the specimen to the DNR Oshkosh office, 625 E. County Road Y, Suite 700, Oshkosh, Wis., 54901-9731. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
