The opening day of the 2017 sturgeon spearing season is in the books.
Overall, I have to say things are off to a good start. The highlight of
today is the size of some of the fish harvested. Of the 198 fish
harvested from Lake Winnebago, 15 were 100 pounds or larger (7.6%). There
were 3 fish larger than 140 pounds harvested today: 1) Sandra Schumacher’s
154.7 pound, 78.5” fish registered at Stockbridge (photo attached), 2) Mason
Krueger’s 145.6 pound, 73.2 pound fish registered at Jerry’s Bar (photo
attached) and 3) Craig Kelliher’s 140.5 pound, 76.0” fish registered at
Wendt’s. Sandra’s fish is the largest fish harvested since the 2014
season. Three of the 123 fish (2.4%) harvested from the Upriver Lakes
were 100 pounds or larger today.
Earlier this week I reported that the best water clarity was along the east
and north shores of Lake Winnebago and that showed in harvest numbers by
registration station (harvest table attached). Stockbridge Harbor paced the way
with 59 fish registered on opening day, followed by Payne’s Point (37), Quinney
(30), and Wendt’s (28). Critter’s received the majority of the fish
registered on the Upriver Lakes with the other stations of Indian Point and
Boom Bay registering far fewer fish.
Today’s opening day harvest of 198 fish on Lake Winnebago ranks 11th
of 16 seasons since shortened spearing hours were implemented in 2002.
With today’s harvest we currently are at 12.5% of the adult female harvest cap
on Lake Winnebago. Each of the 5 previous seasons with lower opening day
harvests went the full 16-days. So at this point I am bracing for the
long season that likely will go 16 days. The harvest of 123 fish from the
Upriver Lakes ranks 10th of the 11 seasons since the lottery fishery
was implemented in 2007. We are currently at 31.6% of the adult female harvest
cap and 32.8% of the male cap on the Upriver Lakes. Thus, we are expecting this
season to at least go into mid-week but likely longer.
|
Year
|
LW Harvest
|
Water
Clarity (ft)
|
LW Shanty
Count
|
|
2017
|
198
|
9.5
|
5074
|
|
2016
|
84
|
9
|
3831
|
|
2015
|
468
|
12
|
4436
|
|
2014
|
636
|
15
|
4046
|
|
2013
|
41
|
8
|
2724
|
|
2012
|
39
|
10
|
2197
|
|
2011
|
283
|
13
|
4321
|
|
2010
|
515
|
16
|
4033
|
|
2009
|
389
|
14
|
5958
|
|
2008
|
635
|
18
|
3171
|
|
2007
|
195
|
10
|
4411
|
|
2006
|
39
|
6
|
3434
|
|
2005
|
215
|
16
|
2604
|
|
2004
|
1310
|
15
|
4751
|
|
2003
|
248
|
7.5
|
4150
|
|
2002
|
228
|
7.5
|
4368
|
|
Year
|
URL
Harvest
|
|
2017
|
123
|
|
2016
|
151
|
|
2015
|
126
|
|
2014
|
242
|
|
2013
|
140
|
|
2012
|
171
|
|
2011
|
159
|
|
2010
|
141
|
|
2009
|
117
|
|
2008
|
169
|
|
2007
|
168
|
We collected sturgeon stomachs from more than 50 fish today and will be
collecting more tomorrow. I plan to go through the stomachs on Monday, with
report to follow during the week, but it’s very apparent that sturgeon are heavily
predating on gizzard shad this year. This is not a surprise at all given
the large shad hatch that we observed this year during our fall bottom trawl
surveys. Overall, I think today was pretty successful. Harvest numbers
were not real high, but 321 spearers were still able to tag out. Further,
another season has commenced, offering spearers opportunities to reunite with
friends and family while renewing traditions and expanding on the social
culture of sturgeon spearing.
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