Lake sturgeon hook and line season
2022 hook and line lake sturgeon regulations
Catch and release seasons
Sturgeon harvest
Anglers need to purchase a harvest tag if they intend to keep a sturgeon. The harvest tag is available throughout the season and costs $20 for residents and $50 for non-residents. Note: You do not need a harvest tag to catch and release sturgeon on waters open to sturgeon fishing during the open hook and line season.
Resident and nonresident lake sturgeon fishing licenses
All anglers must have a Wisconsin general inland fishing license unless they are under 16 years old, or were born before Jan. 1, 1927. Active military personnel who are Wisconsin residents and in active service but on furlough or leave are eligible to receive a free annual fishing license.
Below is a list of resident and nonresident sturgeon fishing licenses. All licenses are available for purchase through Go Wild, DNR Service Centers or at one of our sales locations unless otherwise noted.
Get started and buy your license today.
- Resident sturgeon fishing
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Resident sturgeon fishing
Type $ Sturgeon Hook & Line Inland 20.00 Sturgeon Hook & Line Wisconsin & Michigan 20.00 - Nonresident sturgeon fishing
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Nonresident sturgeon fishing
Type $ Sturgeon Hook & Line Inland 50.00 Sturgeon Hook & Line Wisconsin/Michigan 50.00 Military Inland Sturgeon Hook & Line 20.00 Military WI/MI Sturgeon Hook & Line 20.00
Tagging your sturgeon - The carcass tag only needs to be attached if you leave the sturgeon carcass. However, you still are required to validate your carcass tag immediately upon harvesting the sturgeon before moving it. How to correctly tag your sturgeon [PDF].
Find a registration station
Registration stations are available in areas where sturgeon are traditionally harvested. A harvested fish must be registered at a designated registration station no later than 6 p.m. the day after you caught the fish.
Angling opportunities
There are angling opportunities for hook and line sturgeon anglers in specific harvest areas in some of Wisconsin's larger river systems.
Questions? Contact a biologist
Hook and line sturgeon fishing are only allowed on certain waters in Wisconsin. If you have questions about sturgeon fishing and want to talk with a biologist who manages lake sturgeon, consult the lake sturgeon management contact map [PDF].