Day 2 Sturgeon Report : 2/11/18

Photo: Joseph Orlando had Sunday’s biggest fish, measuring 147.3 pounds and 77.5 inches long

By Ryan Koenigs, DNR Winnebago System Sturgeon Biologist

Opening weekend of the 2018 sturgeon spearing season on the Winnebago System is now in the books. The harvest from Lake Winnebago remained low today (56 fish), but the Upriver Lakes continues to produce fish for spearers (68 fish). We have now reached 66% of the adult female harvest cap for the Upriver Lakes and are 23 adult females away from the 90% trigger. This may not seem like that far off, but more than 40% of spearers have already tagged out so effort will be reduced during the remainder of the season. I anticipate the Upriver Lakes season will go at least into mid-week.

The big fish on the system today was 147.3 pounds, 77.5” and harvested by Joseph Orlando (photo attached). Joseph registered his fish at Critter’s today meaning that the two largest fish of the season have been registered at that station. The largest fish of the day on Lake Winnebago was a 122.1 pound, 72.1” female registered at Wendt’s by Joseph Kowalkowski. Joseph is originally from Wisconsin, but currently resides in South Carolina and represents 1 of 358 non-residents that purchased a spearing license for this season. Non-resident license sales represent 2.8% of total purchases with sportsmen and sportswomen from 31 states and 1 Canadian Province purchasing licenses this season.