A new lake sturgeon tag has been developed that will be available at license vendors on July 1, 2009. The lake sturgeon tag is non-transferable and must be obtained at a license vendor prior to all lake sturgeon fishing, including catch and release. There is no cost for the lake sturgeon tag and the tag is not a substitute for a fishing license. All anglers must have at least a valid restricted fishing license to use the lake sturgeon tag. Anglers need to possess the lake sturgeon tag when targeting lake sturgeon.The state-wide season harvest limit for lake sturgeon is one annually per person. Lake sturgeon fishing season information can be found on page 11 (Table 4 Lake Sturgeon) of the Fishing Guide.

Lake Sturgeon Fishing Tag and Harvest Tag Example

How to validate your Lake Sturgeon Harvest Tag

Anglers who harvest a lake sturgeon are required to register their harvest within 24hrs at a designated registration station or by contacting DNR (see below).

NOTICE: Import and Export Permits are required by Federal Law for transporting sturgeon between the U.S. and Canada.

Great Lakes and connecting waters (except Lake St. Clair and St. Clair R.) all inland waters except Otsego L. and Black L. (Cheboygan Co.)

• A lake sturgeon tag must be obtained prior to lake sturgeon fishing. Lake sturgeon being released should not be tagged.
• Season: July 16 - November 30
• Harvest: Catch and release only. No possession.

Lake St. Clair and St. Clair R.

• A lake sturgeon tag must be obtained prior to lake sturgeon fishing. Lake sturgeon being harvested must be tagged immediately and registered at a designated registration station. Lake sturgeon being released should not be tagged.
• Harvest Season: July 16 - September 30
• Size Restriction: Between 42" - 50". All fish less than 42" and greater than 50" must be released immediately.
• Harvest: 1 per season (during open harvest season only)
• Catch and Release Season: October 1 - November 30

Otsego Lake (Otsego Co.)

• A lake sturgeon tag must be obtained prior to lake sturgeon fishing. Lake sturgeon being harvested must be tagged immediately and registered at a designated registration station. Lake sturgeon being released should not be tagged.
• Season: July 16 - March 15
• Size Restriction: 50 inch minimum
• Harvest: 1 per season

• A lake sturgeon tag must be obtained prior to lake sturgeon fishing. Lake sturgeon being harvested must be tagged immediately and registered at a designated registration station. Lake sturgeon being released should not be tagged.
• Season: September 5 - September 30
• Size Restriction: 60 inch minimum
• Harvest: 1 per season
• For the Menominee River (from Hattie Street Dam to the end of the breakwalls in Green Bay) the daily possession limit of lake sturgeon is 0. This area is closed to lake sturgeon harvest.

Black Lake (Cheboygan Co.)

• Anglers participating in the Black Lake winter lake sturgeon season in February must register onsite daily prior to angling and all lake sturgeon harvested must be registered immediately (including internal examination of reproductive organs) with onsite DNR personnel.
• Season and Harvest: Spearing/Hook and line: season begins the first Saturday in February and will last for either 5 days or when the harvest quota which shall not exceed (5) fish is reached, whichever comes first.
• Contact DNR Gaylord office for details 989-732-3541

Bluewater Bait & Accessories
8089 Dixie Hwy
Fairhaven, MI 48023
(586) 725-1448

Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station
33135 South River Rd
Harrison Twp, MI 48045
(586) 465-4771

Lakeside Fishing Shop
25110 Jefferson
St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
(586) 777-7003

Professional Fishing Center
36257 Jefferson Ave
Harrison Twp., MI 48045
(586) 469-2070

Weavers Market
3847 Green Drive
Harsens Island, MI 48028
(810) 748-9929

Southfield Michigan DNR Office
26000 W. Eight Mile Rd
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 359-9040

Lumberjack's Store
3470 Pt. Trumble Rd
Algonac, MI 48001
(810) 794-4921

Anglers who catch a lake sturgeon during late or early hours when the above registration stations are not open may report their lake sturgeon harvest by contacting either the DNR Southfield Operations Service Center (248) 359-9040 or DNR Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station (586) 465-4771. Please speak carefully, slowly, and clearly while recording catch information on the answering machine. Anglers will need to indicate that they are registering their lake sturgeon for harvest and provide the following information regarding their catch: angler name, tag number (same as license number), address, contact phone number, fish length, weight, girth, date of catch, and waterbody where caught.

Gaylord DNR Office
1732 M-32 West
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 732-3541, ext. 5071

Don's Sport and Marine
3819 Old 27 South
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 732-4157

Parkside Country Store
7131 S Old 27
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 732-5866

Otsego Lake State Park
7136 Old 27 South
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 732-5485

Jay's Sporting Goods
150 Dale Drive
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 705-1339

JJ's Service
Hwy 41
Wallace, MI 49893
(906) 788-4255

Camp Shakey Bait Shop
G12 Shakey Lakes Road
Stephenson, MI 49887
(906) 753-4977

Holiday Gas Station Store
1051 10th Ave
Menominee, MI
(906) 863-4001

BP Amoco
Hwy 41
Stephenson, MI 49887
(906) 753-4455

Martin Creek Sport N Feed
Hwy 41
Menominee, MI 49858
(906) 863-4868

If a lake sturgeon needs to be registered and none of the below stations are open in the Marinette area, call (715) 732-0846 for assistance.

Peshtigo Service Center
101 N. Ogden Rd.
Peshtigo, WI 54157
(715) 582-5000

Pembine Ranger Station
Hwy 141
Pembine, WI 54156
(715) 324-5227

MBK Sport Shop
1509 Main St.
Marinette, WI 54143
(715) 735-5393

Bobwhite Trout and Bait
Hwy 141
Coleman, WI 54112
(920) 897-3812

Bear Point Yacht Club
Hwy 180
Wausaukee, WI 54177
(715) 856-5092