As the Wisconsin sturgeon spearing season reaches its 16-day headway, harvesters have caught between 14 and 16% of capacity.

Of this total, 2% consist of 8 sturgeon weighing a hundred pounds and above. This is lower than in 2023 but way better than 1969 which yielded only 8 fish, all below a hundred pounds.

Most of the 100-pounders came from the Upriver Lakes, including the biggest so far weighing 148 pounds.

The spearing lull this season owes to unpredictable ice afloat Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago and Upriver Lakes. While sheltering ice has held for most of the past two weeks, unexpected snowfall has thwarted potential sturgeon catches.

Run by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wisconsin’s sturgeon hunting sometimes gets an extension if landings fall short of expectations. By February 20, 2024, harpooners had bagged 350 sturgeons. 

DNR is keen on the size, gender and number of catches each year to account for the fish population. This at a time when environmentalists want to list sturgeon as an endangered species.

Since 2000, the state body has implemented harvest caps to improve sturgeon sustainability in its interior water bodies. 

Hence, fishermen have to register each haul and include its length and weight. Local fishers pay a license of $20 each season, while out-of-state harpooners register at $65.

Spearing of sturgeon only happens when the lakes are under cover of ice. Harvesters use shelters (shanties) placed on ice from where to spear the fish. Though thin ice helps them see better inside the water and locate their targets, it can be treacherous. 

On February 10, which opened the Wisconsin sturgeon harvest, ice was quite thin due to the 2023-24 warm winter. Conditions were reminiscent of the 2 to 8 inches deep ice that made the 2020 spearing season dangerous. 

Fishermen use light shelters or fishing vehicles to avoid the sinking risk of heavier gear.

There are usually ice divers around in case of such accidents, but it costs from $2,500 to retrieve a sunken shelter. Yet, each season, over 5000 shanties of registered harvesters line the lake’s surface.

One of the reasons for braving treacherous ice is that sturgeons bring the big bucks. A pound of the fish goes for at least $32.50 and can hit $100. Caviar, which comes from the roe of certain sturgeons and other fish is even costlier.