Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials caught a record size lake sturgeon on the Wolf River near Shawano. Measuring 87.5 inches long and weighing more than 240 pounds, the fish is believed to be the largest lake sturgeon ever caught in the United States. Experts estimate the specimen to be around 125 years old, meaning it may be the oldest freshwater fish ever to exist.
After being tagged by the DNR fishing crew, the fish were released back into the water to complete the spawning cycle. As part of population research, the DNR tags and releases sturgeon annually. and the Lake Winnebago system is home to one of the largest populations of lake sturgeon worldwide.
In addition, to help initiate sturgeon recovery in other regions. of Wisconsin and other states The eggs and milk of some spawning fish are thus collected. Data from past years indicate that the sturgeon population in the system is increasing. and more fish until adulthood
Recorded female sturgeons live through interesting times. Sturgeon biologist Ron Bruch has created a timeline that highlights important events in the fish’s life:
1887 – The sturgeon is hatched, Grover Cleveland becomes the president of the United States, and Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show opens in London.
1914 – A 27-year-old fish and its first spawn. later that year Events in Europe sparked the start of World War I.
1915 – Wisconsin announced a statewide sturgeon harvest closure to protect the population.
1932 – At 45 years old, the state holds its first modern season of pike at Lake Winnebago. Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
[1945–Inthe58thyearthefishspawnedfortheeighthtimeWorldWarIIends
1969 – The fish is 82 years old and has lived for 38 seasons in Lake Winnebago and 10 seasons in the Upriver Lakes. Neil Armstrong walks on the moon.
1990 – Dan Floze, a native of Milwaukee, retired as sturgeon biologist and was replaced by Ron Bruce. The Soviet Union broke up.
2012 – The fish is 125 years old and at its 25th spawn was caught by a DNR crew at Shawano Dam. Ryan Koenigs is named the successor to Ron Bruch as sturgeon biologist.
And although this sturgeon is the largest lake sturgeon ever caught in the United States, and possibly the oldest fish ever caught. But there are sturgeons lurking in Canadian waters, for example, that are much larger. Take a look at the giant below, photographed by Yves Bisson Sturgeon Co.
