CHARLEVOIX, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Before sunrise on Feb. 7, anglers will gather on the ice at Black Lake for one of Michigan’s rarest traditions — a tightly controlled chance to hook a prehistoric giant, with the season ending as soon as just six lake sturgeon are harvested.

Officials will close the season when one of two scenarios occurs: 1) The sixth fish is harvested or 2) Five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day. The 2025 Black Lake sturgeon season ended after only 17 minutes of fishing.

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Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the season. The season will end either at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, or when one of the above scenarios is met, at which point anglers will be notified via text message and on the ice by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) personnel that they must immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon.

Anyone who wants to participate must register online by close of business Friday, Feb. 6. For more information visit here.