Being an avid fisherman along with enjoying fish keeping this is a touchy topic for me . I have very few positive things to say about the WI D.N.R but the sturgeon issue is one thing that they are staying on top of and doing a very good job maintaining agood stock to ensure the species. They lowered the minimum size limit to aid in larger females chance of survival. In addition to that they set Quotas on the amount of juvenile females, adult females and adult males that can be harvested during each season. If any of those quotas come to 90% they season closes the next day, if 100% of any quota is met, the season closes that day. Also during their spawning season, the grounds that they spawn at are guarded 24-7 to prevent poachers from illegally taking any fish. This has all led to an increase in their population. Some seasons only last one day some go the full 10 days. They sold over 10,000 licenses this past year so only about 15% got a sturgeon.
I do not spear and have no desire to do so. I don't necessarily agree with the season and I don't agree with the walleye spearing during their spawning either. I have seen boats with 200+ female walleye in it and that is not done the traditional way either but with 1 million candlelight lights instead of torches as was done 200 years ago. But both are legal and must be done legally.
Fish and seafood are a source of food and as long as it is done without decimating a species, I don't see a problem with it. Maybe I feel this way because I enjoy fishing and live in Wisconsin, although I'm not inbred and don't come from Wisconsin. Responsibility is the key to harvesting and maintaining all species, in water and on land as well. I hope that this comment does not cause to much conflict, but I wanted to give my opinion and also supply some facts about thespearing and regulations for doing so.
P.S. I love to go every year to see these beautiful fish spawning, it is truly a breathtaking sight, and every year I root for the sturgeon to stay away from the sturgeon spearers.
