Sturgeon Poaching Probe
Michigan DNR Seeks Tips After Massive, Protected Lake Sturgeon Found Dumped in Whitehall
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DNR Conservation Officer Anna Cullen described lake sturgeon as iconic and urged the public to help by providing information to help protect the species and pursue justice for the fish.
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Incidental catch rule: sturgeon captured while targeting other species must be released immediately.
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Whitehall is about 55 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, and the sturgeon was dumped on Durham Road just south of the White River access.
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Some reports note the dumping occurred between midnight Thursday and 5:30 a.m. Friday, indicating the event spanned two calendar days.
A 71-inch lake sturgeon — nearly six feet long — was found dumped on Durham Road in Whitehall, Muskegon County, sometime between midnight and 5:30 a.m. Friday, according to CBS News. The Michigan DNR is now investigating the incident as suspected poaching and asking the public for help.
Lake sturgeon are a protected, threatened species in Michigan. WXYZ reports the fish showed damage to its left gill plate, a sign it was likely snagged illegally. The dumping site sits just south of a White River access point — a stretch where sturgeon fishing is not allowed.
A Protected Giant Likely Poached from the White River
Lake sturgeon have been listed as a threatened species in Michigan since 1994, according to Michigan News Source. Fishing for them is only permitted in a handful of locations statewide. The White River, near where this fish was found, is not one of them. Anyone who accidentally catches a sturgeon while targeting other fish must release it immediately.
The fish found Friday was 71 inches long. AOL reports it was dumped in the middle of Durham Road, raising little doubt that someone tried to hide what they had done. The gill plate damage points to snagging — a method where a hook is dragged through the water to snag a fish's body rather than lure it to bite.
This Fish May Have Lived More Than 100 Years
Lake sturgeon are one of Michigan's oldest and longest-lived species. They can survive for more than 100 years. They also take up to 25 years just to reach maturity and begin reproducing, according to CBS News. That slow timeline makes every single fish critical to the species' recovery.
The sturgeon found on Durham Road could have been decades old. Its loss is not just one fish — it represents generations of future fish that will never exist. That's why DNR Conservation Officer Anna Cullen called lake sturgeon
DNR Conservation Officer Anna Cullen called lake sturgeon iconic and urged the public to act. "Help us protect the species and pursue justice," she said, according to Michigan News Source. Restoration efforts have been underway since 1994, and incidents like this set that work back significantly.
DNR Offers Cash Rewards for Tips Leading to Arrest
The DNR is urging anyone with information to call the Report All Poaching Hotline. Cash rewards are available for tips that lead to an arrest and prosecution, according to 1039 WVBO. The hotline exists specifically for cases like this, where a witness may know something but needs an incentive to come forward.
Whitehall sits about 55 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. The dumping happened in a narrow overnight window — between midnight Thursday and 5:30 a.m. Friday. That tight timeframe means someone in the area may have seen or heard something. Authorities are asking residents near the White River access and Durham Road to think back to that night.
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