Fishing planet michigan lake sturgeon12/5/2023 ![]() When European settlers arrived in the region, sturgeon were so numerous during the spring spawning run that they were reportedly capable of capsizing fishing boats.Įarly commercial fishermen scorned sturgeon as nuisance fish that destroyed their gill nets. ![]() They served as an important food source for many Native American tribes. Lake sturgeon were historically abundant in all of the Great Lakes. It is estimated that only about 10-20 percent of adult lake sturgeon within a population spawn during a given year. Female lake sturgeon spawn once every four years, each depositing million of eggs on gravel bars. In early spring, adult sturgeon enter fast-flowing rivers to spawn. It takes about 15 years for male lake sturgeon to reach reproductive maturity and 20-25 years for females. Despite their long lives, sturgeon are slow to mature. Male lake sturgeon live an average of 55 years. Lake sturgeon live longer than any other fish species in Michigan. Most lake sturgeon caught today weigh between 30-100 pounds and grow to 3-6 feet in length. They feed along lake bottoms, eating a variety of small animals including snails, crustaceans, aquatic insects, mussels, and small fish. Lake sturgeon are nearshore fish that live at water depths of 15-30 feet. ![]() Grow very slowly but may reach 8 feet long and 300 pounds.Currently threatened and rare due to overharvest and habitat loss.One of the oldest species in the Great Lakes. ![]()
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