65 minutes later: Anglers celebrate sturgeon season on Black Lake

Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune
·2 min read
Angler Charles Jett shows off the sturgeon he caught on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Jett was the first angler to catch a fish during the early morning start of lake sturgeon season. The length of the male fish was 49 inches and it weighed 30 pounds.
Angler Charles Jett shows off the sturgeon he caught on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Jett was the first angler to catch a fish during the early morning start of lake sturgeon season. The length of the male fish was 49 inches and it weighed 30 pounds.

CHEBOYGAN — The temperatures were freezing cold on Saturday morning, but that didn’t seem to bother the many who were on hand for the annual Shivaree hosted by Sturgeon for Tomorrow.

Starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, lake sturgeon season officially began out on the Black Lake ice.

This year's sturgeon season lasted a total of 65 minutes, with the first fish being caught by Charles Jett. As for Jett’s sturgeon, it was a male that was 49 inches in length and weighed 30 pounds.

More:Shivaree marks start, and end, of sturgeon season

Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel work with the second sturgeon that was caught on Black Lake on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel work with the second sturgeon that was caught on Black Lake on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023.

Not too long after that, more fish were weighed, but the names of the anglers and weights/lengths of the fish were unavailable to the Daily Tribune at the time.

The harvest limit for the season was six lake sturgeon. Officials close the season either when the sixth fish is harvested or five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day.

Last year, the season ended after just 36 minutes. The largest fish caught in 2022 was a 62-inch male that weighed 67 pounds.

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Despite the freezing temperatures, there were plenty of smiles on the faces of the attendees who were present for the start of sturgeon season on Black Lake Saturday morning. Many of those people took part in the Shivaree activities on Friday and Saturday.
Despite the freezing temperatures, there were plenty of smiles on the faces of the attendees who were present for the start of sturgeon season on Black Lake Saturday morning. Many of those people took part in the Shivaree activities on Friday and Saturday.

The annual Sturgeon for Tomorrow-hosted event took place on both Friday and Saturday. The event coincides with the lake sturgeon fishing season, which is one of the most anticipated and shortest fishing seasons of the year. Sturgeon season is the shortest season in the state, as it normally only lasts less than an hour. On this particular Saturday, it went just past the 9 a.m. mark.

More:Michigan's Black Lake sturgeon fishing season lasts 65 minutes

A group of people walk on the Black Lake Ice before the official start of sturgeon season on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Tons of attendees were excited to check out the fish caught by anglers during the event on Saturday.
A group of people walk on the Black Lake Ice before the official start of sturgeon season on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Tons of attendees were excited to check out the fish caught by anglers during the event on Saturday.

As for the Shivaree itself, it received another strong turnout as several people were on hand throughout Friday and Saturday. During the two days, activities were hosted and people enjoyed themselves on one of the most unique fishing weekends of the year Up North. Those in attendance were provided food and goods, and music was played as well. Those who caught sturgeon showed off their prizes to those who came to see their fish.

Tess Ware and the Detroit Free Press also contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: 65 minutes later: Anglers celebrate sturgeon season on Black Lake