2024 Black Lake sturgeon season canceled

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is announcing the cancellation of the 2024 Black Lake sturgeon season, which was scheduled to start Saturday, Feb. 3.

A harvest limit is set for each Black Lake sturgeon season. With the current marginal ice conditions and depletion of ice on Black Lake, there is concern of excessive harvest with the inability to effectively track harvests with limited DNR personnel on the ice. 

“In addition to protecting the lake sturgeon population, the safety of anglers and staff is critically important," said Randy Claramunt, DNR Fisheries chief. “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 Black Lake sturgeon season has been canceled. It is too soon to determine whether this cancellation will influence the harvest limit next year.

Part 411 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act grants the DNR the authority to cancel the season.