MI Black Lake Sturgeon Fishing Season Canceled Due To Melting Ice: DNR

MICHIGAN — The 2024 Black Lake sturgeon harvest in Michigan was canceled Friday due to melting ice conditions, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The harvest was scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Saturday on Black Lake in Cheboygan County and end when the quota of six sturgeon was reached, officials said.

However, marginal ice conditions and depletion of ice on Black Lake there caused concern about excessive harvest and the inability to effectively track harvests with limited Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel on the ice, officials said.

"In addition to protecting the lake sturgeon population, the safety of anglers and staff is critically important," Randy Claramunt, DNR Fisheries chief, said in a news release. "We encourage all anglers across Michigan to use extreme caution while on the ice as we have been experiencing above average temperatures."

This is the first time the season has been canceled and it's too soon to determine whether it will influence the harvest limit for next year, officials said.

Sturgeon population in the lake has increased over the past 20 years due to rearing and stocking efforts, research and protection of spawning adults and more.