Michigan’s Black Lake sturgeon season shattered records this year, lasting just 17 minutes before anglers reached the quota of seven fish. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed this as the shortest season in history, beating the previous record of 36 minutes set in 2022.
The annual event, often called “Michigan’s shortest fishing season,” saw 797 registered participants. Each angler was allowed to harvest one sturgeon using either a spear or a hook-and-line, with the DNR collecting data from the catches to aid conservation efforts.
“It was a banner day of Black Lake sturgeon fishing for a great fish, and everyone was pleased with their catches,” said Jay Woiderski, president of the Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow.
The first sturgeon was speared just three minutes after the 8 a.m. start time by angler Gavin Green, measuring 43.5 inches and weighing just over 18 pounds. Within minutes, more fish followed, with the final sturgeon registered at 8:17 a.m.
To maintain strict oversight, each participant was required to text the DNR immediately after landing a fish. Once the seven-fish limit was reached, the agency alerted all registered anglers to end the season.
The largest fish of the day was a 78.3-pound sturgeon, speared by Wisconsin angler Austin Dreifuerst. This year, there was no size restriction, following a “one and done” policy, ensuring each successful angler harvested just a single fish.
Black Lake, along with Mullet and Burt Lakes, serves as a stronghold for lake sturgeon, with ongoing stocking and tagging programs supporting the species. Despite Black Lake’s relatively smaller sturgeon compared to nearby waters, the DNR determined that the population could sustain the limited harvest.
“They figured seven fish was a good limit, and there were plenty of mature fish available,” said Woiderski. “A friend of mine saw 30 sturgeon from his ice shanty before the season opened, but none passed by soon enough for him to spear one.”
Following the record-breaking season, the community celebrated with the annual Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree. Dreifuerst, who landed the largest sturgeon, was crowned the 2025 Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree King, receiving a trophy for his catch.
Image/Source: YahooSports
