DNR Unveils New Sturgeon Tag

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:36 am

Yes I know this is a muskie forum, but you are all big fish nuts that may be fishing Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, or lower Menominee River. You have the heavy rods and reels and only need to modify your terminal rigs and bait to fish for the 50+ inch sturgeon. This side distraction is for cooling off at night while at anchor drinking beer, telling muskie stories of the previous day, and planning for the following day.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2009

Contact Christian Le Sage 517-373-1280 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3041

DNR Unveils New Sturgeon Tag

The Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division has devised a new tag that all anglers who fish for lake sturgeon are required to have in their possession. The tag, which is similar to a deer tag and is available free of charge at all license vendors, is perforated with one portion designed to be attached to a sturgeon harvested by an angler. The other half is to be retained for catch-and-release fishing.

The new tag replaces the old locking-tie tags.

“By requiring everyone to have this tag, we can get a better idea of how much fishing pressure exists for sturgeon,” said DNR fisheries biologist Christian Le Sage. “The harvest portion is designed to be used with a length of cord, like a deer or turkey tag, and should be tied around the sturgeon’s tail.”

Michigan has three hook-and-line lake sturgeon fisheries where one sturgeon may be harvested annually - Otsego Lake, Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River, and the Menominee River. Everywhere else, sturgeon fishing is catch-and-release only, except for the winter spearing season on Black Lake. The catch-and-release season is July 16 - Nov. 30.

Harvest seasons are:

-- July 16- Sept 30 on Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River with a limit of one fish measuring between 42 and 50 inches,

-- July 16 - March 15 on Otsego Lake with a limit of one fish, a minimum of 50 inches, and

-- Sept . 1-30 on the Menominee River with a limit of one fish, a minimum of 60 inches. The Menominee River is closed from Hattie Street Dam downstream.

All harvested sturgeon must be tagged immediately and registered at a designated station within 24 hours. Tags can only be acquired from license vendors. The tags will not be available this year until July 1, but next year the tags will be available a the start of the new license sales period.

For a list of registration stations visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr or contact the DNR. Anglers who catch a lake sturgeon during late or early hours when 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 where it was caught.

The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future generations.

Post by **Will Schultz** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:39 am

This "new" tag is exactly what needs to be done for muskies!!!

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:24 pm

One step at a time for the DNR in year 2009 to cover the sturgeon.

MMA can submit a MUCC resolution to June 2010 convention to cover the muskie tag proposal. I can help with the writing format if needed. All proposed fish resolutions requiring a law change are automatically reviewed by DNR fisheries staff. If muskie tag proposal is approved by DNR review and passed at MUCC convention, then MMA will have the stronger backing to be in position for a muskie tag in the future. Note that this MUCC resolution process was done in 2008 with resolution #2 covering pike limits in LSC. It did not pass because it did not have the support of the DNR fisheries staff. The MUCC resolution process is good, because MMA will learn quickly if there is DNR support for a muskie tag pro/con and if they have statewide support for a muskie tag.

Jim tenHaaf · Post by **Jim tenHaaf** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:32 pm

Will Schultz wrote:This "new" tag is exactly what needs to be done for muskies!!!

I whole-heartedly agree.

swanezy · Post by **swanezy** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:37 pm

Yea, would be nice if it was applied for muskie too

Post by **Cyberlunge** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:59 pm

This is great because Michigan has been lacking two things, the aforementioned tag and a slot system. This sets precedent along with the slot for Lake trout maybe soon we can get some biologically sound harvest regs in place for esocids.
KEvin

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:09 pm

I'm sure the 'muskie tag' idea came up within the Muskie Management Plan comment period. Such changes may be a painfully slow process, but the MMA members are well adapted to patience. It may take a couple years or more to sell the idea.

hemichemi · Post by **hemichemi** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:43 pm

We could start a Muskie Tag movement and have our own theme song, "Like a Sturgeon", with music from Madonna's "Like a Virgin".

♫ ♪ ♫♪
Like a sturgeon
Using tags for the very first time
♫ ♪ ♫♪

Jim tenHaaf · Post by **Jim tenHaaf** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:50 pm

Well, I've used it before, but I think it's needed again in this situation.