Jon Verhagen poses with the160.6-pound, 81.2-inch sturgeon he speared Feb. 11, 2025 on Lake Winnebago. (Photo courtesy: Wisconsin DNR)
(WTAQ-WLUK) — The second weekend of sturgeon spearing came to a close on Sunday with a more bountiful harvest than was seen Saturday.
Between the Upriver Lakes and Lake Winnebago, 58 total sturgeon were speared.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that of the 40 speared on Lake Winnebago, 7 were juvenile females, 19 were adult females, and 14 were males.
This year’s harvest cap is 280 for juvenile females, 717 for adult females, and 1,002 for males on Lake Winnebago. The number of sturgeon remaining until the 90% trigger is 194, 484, and 760 respectively.
Of the 18 sturgeon speared on the Upriver Lakes on Saturday, 6 were juvenile females, 2 were adult females, and 10 were males.
This year’s harvest cap is 70 for juvenile females, 80 for adult females, and 250 for males on Upriver Lakes. The number of sturgeon remaining until the 90% trigger are 22, 30, and 29 respectively.
The Upriver Lakes are now at 78% of the harvest cap for male sturgeon.
“This is still lower than expected, considering reports indicate there are at least some good areas of ice on the lakes. But we are still hearing that access, particularly on the south shoreline, is difficult. So please make sure you check with those landings and local groups for updates,” the DNR said of the upriver lakes.
The DNR says Sunday’s largest sturgeon was a 144.5-pound, 76.1-inch F2 female, and was one of three sturgeon caught Sunday weighing over 100 pounds.
“Please note, due to water clarity, the Pipe registration station will still be closed [Monday]. For those registering fish in that area, the Quinney registration station is the next closest station,” the DNR says.
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