We have now completed three days of the 2014 sturgeon spearing season on the Winnebago System and spearers are continuing to have great success with harvesting some very nice fish. The season on the Upriver Lakes came to a close today with a total harvest of 341 fish, 11 of which were in excess of 100 pounds (3.2%). The highest concentration of fish were registered at our registration stations at Critter’s and Indian Point. The attached PDF displays a more in-depth breakdown of where fish were registered today (Note the change from yesterday where a fish that was harvested on the Upriver Lakes was tallied in the Lake Winnebago harvest totals; therefore the season’s totals are 1 more male on the Upriver Lakes and 1 fewer male on Lake Winnebago).
The harvest from Lake Winnebago today exceeded expectations, with spearers harvesting a total of 198 fish. This brings the season total to 1,154 fish with the highest volume of fish still being registered at our registration stations on the southern end of Lake Winnebago. Given that the harvest on the Upriver Lakes spear fishery exceeded the harvest cap by 4 fish, the system-wide harvest cap will be tripped first and thus drive the season length. We are now 111 adult females away from the 90% trigger for the harvest caps, which very likely would be hit on Wednesday or Thursday. So if you haven’t speared your fish yet but are looking for another opportunity, then I recommend you get out on the ice in the next couple of days.
The two largest fish of the season were registered today. Brian King leads the way thus far with his 155.0 pound, 76.4” sturgeon that he registered at our Jim and Linda’s Super Club location today (photo attached).
John Kurth also registered a very nice fish at Payne’s Point (2nd largest of the season), a fish which tipped the scales at 152.0 pounds and measured 75.4”.
