146 lb. Lake Winnebago Sturgeon - Age?

[Tom]

This past weekend there was a giant sturgeon spared on Lake Winnebago. I think this sturgeon was 146 lbs.
So I was looking for a ballpark age for this sturgeon?
Thanks Tom

[solarfisher00]

From the research I've done that fish would have been between 100 and 120 years old. Sturgean are a really interesting and incredable fish. They are a lot of fun to catch with hook and line. Especially if your are jigging for walleyes when you catch it. Had a friend catch a 6 footer that way. They are now one of my favorite fish to catch.

Solarfisher00

[FlyBoy]

I like catching the occasional 'shark' too.. The big exception I take is killing a 100+ year old fish. They shouldn't be able to spear anything that big. There isn't a fish in the world worth killing that is that old. Not for me anyway.

-John

[solarfisher00]

Im with you on this one Flyboy. I don't have anything against spearing, but when you catch a fish that has been on this earth longer than you have I think you should let here go. There aren't too many huge sturgeon left, so the real loss that that fish won't be spawning. That fish probably had another 20 to 30 years left to live. Sturgeon take 15 to 20 years to mature and then they only spawn once every 4 to 6 years. That is why it is really important that we have t try our best to protect those bigger sturgeon. Thankfully sturgeon populations are starting to increase in some areas thanks to tougher regulations and the efforts to clean up our lakes and rivers.

Solarfisher00

[sib]

spearing is an ancient tactic steeped in tradition. i think that it is possible to have spearing and simultaneously improve the sturgeon population. maybe what needs to be done is to limit the amount of spearing.

in mich this year the quota for spearing sturgeon was 5 fish for the state and only one lake(black) allowed sturgeon to be speared. there was a lottery everyday until the limit was reached, last year the quota was reached within a week.

i think if certain bodies of water are set aside as safety zones or if licenses are set up in a lottery limiting the harvest, spearing can still exist for those who love the sport.

finally if spearing is banned the frontline in the war of sportspeople vs. anti's will have collapsed, putting hook and line anglers on the frontline in defending the rights to enjoy the outdoors. well that's my take anyways.

caveat: i don’t spear sturgeon.

"go outside and play"
sib

[solarfisher00]

I completely agree with you sib. I Think spearing is a good tradition and that it should be continued. I also think that the lotterys and other increased limits are an excellent way to protect the sturgeon. I only hope that both hook and line fisherman, and spear fisherman would be a little more selective in their harvest and let these huge 100 year old fish go. Even though I wish that these fish are released, I completely respect a fishermans right to keep these fish as long as it is legal.

Solarfisher00

[Hans]

> spearing is an ancient tactic steeped in tradition.

Justifying killing a rare 100+ year old creature under the heading of "tradition" strikes me as beyond the pale.

There are lots of things "steeped in tradition" - dog-fighting comes to mind - which are not worthy of preservation.

Hans

[FlyBoy]

I take no exception to legal spearing. I don't personally do it, but I would probably enjoy it if I did. Again, the exception I take is killing a 100+ year old fish. What can you do with it? Eat it? Mount it? It is FAR more valuable swimming around the water to me. If it is that important to you get a replica made. Unfortunately, after you spear it, it's kind of hard to let go.

I think most of the ANTI talk is just that. I don't want to start a war, but people like PETA seem to be good at hanging themselves. The "Drink beer, not milk" compaign comes to mind. They are too stupid to realize their own mistakes. If, as sportsmen we stick together, we can whip their sissy a$$es :)

-John

[rd]

I started a thread before about spearing and its effect on a lakes population but it was pointed out to me that selective harvesting was the norm, need I say more?

[abe]

Boy thats sad to here,because its legal
does nothing to make me feel better.
Kinda like killing your 90yr old grandma.
abe

[Ryan Relien]

The sturgeon in lake winnebago are very fast growing. I don't have any exact numbers, but a male sturgeon on this system is mature at age 15 and thats about 45 inches long. that is a very fast growth rate when compared to other species. Although the fish mentioned in this post is rare,at 146 lbs., I don't feel there is any need for alarm at the killing of this fish. If I remember correctly there has never been a sturgeon older than mid 40's documented on the winnebago system don't quote me on that, but the 100 year old fish are nothing more than folklore. This is one of the details the DNR leaves out of there reports. The populatoin estamates by the DNR are full of holes. Although there are more spearer now than in years the past the spearing season is so limited now that I and many other sturgeon spearers feel that there soon will be to many sturgeon in this system. If it weren't for the explosion in gizzard shad The sturgeon in this system would starve to death. You mark my words, If the population of gizzard shad crashes the DNR is going to have to do a lot of explaining . There will be more sturgeon wash up on shore from starvstion than they ever will admit are alive now. Ten years ago if a person said they saw 3 sturgeon in one day he would have been called a liar. Today people move there shantys if the don't see a sturgeon in a couple of hours. I know this is going to ruffle some feathers, and I'll get a lot of contradictory feed back but ask some of the people who put in 10 hr. days chasing these fish, and turn a deaf ear to those who sit at a bar stool talking about 20 years ago. The best thing to happen to protect sturgeon on this system was th increase in the amount of the fine for poaching them. In the years prior to the stiffer penaltys, more stugeon were taken illegally on there annual spawning runs than were speared in a 3 week season. I guess thats enough complaining, It's difficult to understand my views unless you live here on the winnebago system and participate in this very unique experiance of harvesting sturgeon legally with a spear.

[RISOR39]

HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD PASS UP A TROPHY DEER?TO EACH HIS OWN.PETA THANKS YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

[Goldpig]

A trophy buck is 4.5-5.5 years old, not a hundred+. This is not the same deal at all. Also, you should not liken the respondents to PETA members because they think selective harvest is a good idea. As long as you want to compare hunting to fishing, which is completely irrational, just think about the spread of QDM. More and more hunters are realizing that the key to trophy deer is having good genetics and reducing numbers. In essence, practitioners of this theory subscribe to letting the bigger bucks go, and removing the smaller bucks and excess does (i.e. Long-term thinking). So shouldn't we apply the same rational to this instance where we harvest the younger fish, and let the "monsters" continue to reproduce for future generations?

[Carnivore Stalker]

Well, funny thing about trophy deer and big antlers. You can boil and boil antlers and you can never eat them. I hunt for the sport, the time in the outdoors and the beauty of nature. I never ever take an animal for the sake of shooting it. I take an animal as it is right at that time to do so. I never shoot unless the animal will drop grave yard dead. I never waste anything I take. Fish fowl or fur covered, this is my creed. I hunt for all this and I only hunt or fish for what I like to eat. As for the sturgeon in bago, there are many of them. On a good summer day it is not uncommon to see up to 10 of these fish come rocketing out of the water. They seem to porpose for some reason. Beautifully ugly, majestic fish. But I dont know what the h#ll i'd do with one, so I dont take them. I have no cares of someone taking an animal or dinosaur like the sturgeon if it is done legally. I also do not really understand the need to spear something as big as you are, but to easch his own. I also am glad to see so many are against killing such a large fish for the sake of braggin rights. There have been many times while out hunting, I have not taken the shot as I was just to awed at God's creation in action, and the majesty of such worthy quarry. I respect the right to live that any animal on the planet has, including the Human beast. However I also understand the fact that nothing on this planet lives without the expense of another living creation. This goes from the bugs you swat to the deer you eat, to the goose killed by a fox, to the carrot eaten by the bunny you blow holes in for supper. Our Indian brothers had the right idea in respecting both the inherant beuty and power of the natural world they were one with. Can a trophy hunter say that? Can an animal rights wacko say that? No on both counts.

[FlyBoy]

Good post. You make some very good points. But don't get me started on the casino owners. They know how to use spears, spot lights, full sized trucks, the works. I haven't seen a birch bark canoe in use for an awful long time!

-John

[Frank from TBay]

Excellant Post Carnivore Stalker.

[Marken]

There were 1500+ sturgeon speared in Winnebago this season, which lasted two days. Because of the zebra invasion, the water clarity has caused the DNR to put a "cap" limit on the number of fish that can be speared. When 80% of that cap is reached, the DNR will call the season and it will end the next day.
The estimated age of the 146 lb. sturgeon was 60 years by Ron Bruch, who is the DNR sturgeon expert.
There are estimated to be approximately 40,000 legal sturgeon (over 39")in the Winnebago system. The female reach sexual maturity at age 25 and spawn for the first time. They only spawn every other year.
There were over 4000 shanties on the lake this year. Quite the sight.
Because of the water clarity, the number of spearer's, and the amount of mature females taken, new regulations will be in place by next year.

Just thought some of you might be interested.

[Carnivore Stalker]

True, true. But then it is not all of them, and most are misguided at worst. But I refer more to what was over what is now. No matter why or for what ever reason, what is now is a crying shame.