In the 2026 Black Lake sturgeon fishing season, a record-breaking 48-minute fishing frenzy unfolded in northern Michigan's Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties. The state's shortest season began at 8 a.m. on February 7th and ended at 8:48 a.m., with the quota of six sturgeon reached. 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 Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Sturgeon for Tomorrow, a nonprofit dedicated to the lake sturgeon's future, shared the results on social media. The largest fish, a 67.2-inch female weighing 79.4 pounds, was caught by Jordan Guelig. A total of 679 anglers registered for the season.
The Black Lake sturgeon fishing rules are strict. Anglers can harvest one lake sturgeon and must report their catch immediately to DNR personnel on the ice or by phone. The season closes after the sixth fish is harvested or five fish are caught at the end of any fishing day. If neither condition is met, the season would have ended at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11th.
The Black Lake sturgeon fishing season is notoriously short. In 2025, it lasted just 17 minutes, setting a record for the fastest season ever. In 2024, the season was canceled due to marginal ice conditions and ice depletion on Black Lake. In 2023, it lasted 65 minutes, and in 2022, it ended after 36 minutes.
Lake sturgeon are one of the oldest species in the Great Lakes, having declined dramatically since the 1800s due to habitat loss, degradation, and overfishing. The DNR and several entities have been working to rehabilitate lake sturgeon populations in Michigan. In 1928, Michigan prohibited the taking of lake sturgeon statewide. From 1948, a limited sport fishery for lake sturgeon was allowed on inland lakes open to spearing, including Black Lake, with anglers allowed to harvest two sturgeon of at least 36 inches in length during a two-month season in January and February. The minimum length changed to 42 inches in 1952.
In the late 1990s, concerns arose about a decline in the species' population in Black Lake after declining harvest. Highly restrictive regulations were placed on Black Lake in 2000, capping the fishing season at either nine days or until a five-fish quota was met, with a minimum fish size of 36 inches and limited participation. In 2010, participation became unlimited, and the season was set at five days or until the state harvest quota was met, with the size limit removed to protect mature females. Safeguards were put in place in 2011 to prevent the quota from being surpassed.
Despite these efforts, the population has increased in the past 20 years due to rearing and stocking efforts, research, and the protection of spawning adults. The DNR reports that rehabilitation efforts are working, and the population is on the rise.
