Winnebago System Sturgeon Spearing Enthusiasts:
There were 24 sturgeon harvested from Lake
Winnebago today bringing the season total to 253. Calumet Harbor (Pipe)
paced the way with 7 fish while Stockbridge Harbor and Jerry’s Bar (Oshkosh)
each registered 4. On the season, Wendt’s has a pretty good lead on all
other stations with 67 fish registered thus far. The largest fish of the
day was 92.5 pounds (67.2”) and registered at Calumet Harbor by Joseph
Brenner. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of Joseph with his
fish. The season will continue for another 11 days, so spearers will have
some time to get out and harvest a fish yet this season.
Yesterday I mentioned that the 84.5” fish
registered at Jerry’s Bar was the longest fish that I had confirmed record of
being harvested. We have fairly reliable harvest records dating back to
the early 1970s, but only intermittent records prior to that. Yesterday’s
fish was the longest fish in our data set during this time period, however, I
was made aware of at least one longer fish harvested prior to the 1970s.
That fish was Bill Mortimer’s 85” 168 pound sturgeon harvested during the 1957
season. I have included an excerpt from a news clipping showing a photo
of Bill with his fish. It’s possible there are other longer fish out
there in the history as well. If you are aware of any, please pass on the
photo and story.
Regardless of the length of fish harvested during
past seasons, fish records are based off weight not length. The current
state record lake sturgeon harvested via spear was 212.2 pounds (84.2”) and
taken during the 2010 spearing season. Many of the top 11 heaviest fish
on record were taken during the 2010-2013 seasons (attached document).
Although we have not had a 170+ pound fish registered in the past 5 years, we
have had a number of fish harvested that were certainly long enough to be on
this list had they been in better condition (plumpness). Kyle’s fish
would certainly highlight that bunch.
Good luck to spearers tomorrow!
We are committed to service excellence.
Visit our survey at http://dnr.wi.gov/customersurvey
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Ryan Koenigs
Senior Fisheries Biologist / Winnebago
System Sturgeon Biologist
Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources
625 E County Rd. Y, Suite 700
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone: (920)303-5450
Fax: (920)424-4404
- Harvest+report+%28Day+5+-+February+14%2C+2018%29.pdf
- Bill+Mortimer_85+inches_1957.pdf
- Heavy+hitters.pdf
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