Michigan’s 2026 Black Lake sturgeon fishing season in Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties ended in 48 minutes.
The fishing season — known as the state’s shortest — began at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 and closed at 8:48 a.m., when the quota of six sturgeon was reached, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Fish were harvested at 8:07 a.m,. 8:09 a.m., 8:18 a.m. two at 8:20 a.m. and the last fish at 8:48 a.m. according to text message alerts from the DNR.
Sturgeon for Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the future of lake sturgeon, posted the results of the fishing season on social media. The largest fish was a female that was 67.2 inches long, weighed 79.4 pounds and was harvested by Jordan Guelig.
There were 679 anglers registered for the fishing season, according to the organization.
Here’s a look at the full results, according to Sturgeon for Tomorrow.
Sizes of Black Lake sturgeon harvested
Black Lake sturgeon fishing rules
Black Lake anglers were allowed to harvest one lake sturgeon and had to report the catch immediately to DNR personnel on the ice or by phone.
The season closes after the sixth fish is harvested or five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day. If neither scenario had been met, the season would have closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11.
Anglers are notified via text message and on the ice by DNR when the season is over. They also get text messages each time a fish is taken by an angler.
The season includes spearing and hook-and-line fishing. There’s no size limit for the lake sturgeon caught.
How long does Black Lake sturgeon fishing season last?
The Black Lake sturgeon fishing season is quick.
In 2025, the season was 17 minutes long and holds the record for fastest ever.
In 2024, the season was canceled for the first time ever due to marginal ice conditions and depletion of ice on Black Lake.
In 2023, the seasons lasted 65 minutes.
In 2022, if was over after 36 minutes.
History of lake sturgeon in Black Lake
Lake sturgeon are one of the oldest species in the Great Lakes.
The DNR and several entities have been working to rehabilitate lake sturgeon populations in Michigan after they declined dramatically since the 1800s due to habitat loss and degradation and overfishing, according to the DNR.
Michigan prohibited the taking of lake sturgeon statewide in 1928, according to a 2016 management plan for lake sturgeon in Black Lake.
Beginning in 1948, a limited sport fishery for lake sturgeon was allowed on inland lakes open to spearing, which included Black Lake. Anglers were allowed to harvest two sturgeon of at least 36 inches in length during a two-month season that took place in January and February. The minimum length changed to 42 inches in 1952.
In the late 1990s, there were concerns about an apparent decline in the species’ population in Black Lake after declining harvest.
Highly restrictive lake sturgeon harvest regulations were placed on Black Lake in 2000. From 2000-09, the fishing season was capped at either nine days or until a five-fish quota was met. The minimum fish size was set at 36 inches and only a limited number of anglers could participate.
In 2010, the number of anglers allowed to participate became unlimited and the season was set at five days or until the state harvest quota was met. The size limit for harvested fish was also removed to help reduce the harvest of mature females. Participation has ranged from 197-797 anglers since the 2010 rule changes.
However, in 2011, four fish over the state limit were harvested and safeguards were put in place to ensure the quota was not surpassed.
Rehabilitation efforts are working, according to the DNR. The population has increased in the past 20 years due to lake sturgeon rearing and stocking efforts, research and protection of spawning adults.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s 2026 Black Lake sturgeon fishing season lasts 48 minutes
Reporting by Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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