Legal Spearing Species

What Fish Can You Spear in Michigan?

Can you spearfish walleye in Michigan? Sure thing, along with a lot of other tasty species. Before you go for a dive, please inform yourself of the regulations and where you can legally spearfish in Michigan. Better yet, learn the spearfishing safety rules before you dive.

Spearing game fish in Michigan is in a 3-year trial period. It’s up to us to follow the regs to preserve this opportunity for years to come. We want to present the sport in a positive light and welcome new spearos as spearfishing in Michigan gains in popularity. We need to show the DNR we’re responsible and spearfishing has minimal impact on the ecosystem - especially when compared to hook and line fishing.

 

Existing Regulations

Before the new regulations, you were legally allowed to spearfish the following species in the Great Lakes:

  • Bowfin

  • Bullheads

  • Burbot

  • Carp

  • Catfish

  • Drum

  • Gizzard shad

  • Goldfish

  • Grass carp

  • Cisco (lake herring)

  • Longnose gar

  • Smelt

  • Suckers

  • Whitefish

New 2022 Regulations

In addition to the species on the left, the new law only allows us to spear Lake Trout, Walleye, and Northern Pike in the following areas:

  • Lake Michigan: waters south of the southernmost pier at Grand Haven.

  • Lake Huron: waters south of the southernmost pier of the Thunder Bay River, extending south to the mouth of the St. Clair River (Fort Gratiot Light)

Yes, the boundaries are a bummer, especially when compared to the liberal season every other angler in Michigan enjoys.

But it’s our responsibility to show the DNR that we can follow these rules to hopefully get it expanded in the years to come.

Shoot Wisely

There is no such thing as catch and release in spearfishing. There is no by-catch (catching something you don’t want). This makes spearfishing one of the most sustainable forms of fishing since injured fish aren’t released to die later on, stressed out due to improper handling, swallowed hooks, or long-ass photo ops (put the trout back, dude!).

Ever eaten a gizzard shad? We wouldn’t recommend it. We encourage you to only spear what you’re going to eat. Although you’re legally allowed to spear a variety of species, we’ll only be covering the species that we consider “table worthy” below.

Harvest reports are mandatory. Report your harvests via the link below.

Scrumptious Spearable Species

  • Walleye

    Walleye need no introduction. Great eating, mild, and fun to target.

  • Northern Pike

    Slime rockets. Cabbage Dinos. Northern Pike are aggressive, scary looking, and great eating. Do yourself a favor and learn how to remove the y-bones.

  • Lake Trout

    Lakers are one of two native trout species in Michigan. Populations have ebbed and flowed but these prolific fish are some of the most fun to chase on the Great Lakes. Anyone who says that aren’t good to eat doesn’t know how to cook them.

  • Drum

    Before the new regulations, fresh water drum were the best eating fish you could legally spear in Michigan. They get big, they’re fun to hunt, and they are prolific in the Great Lakes if you know where to look.

  • Catfish

    Catfish are an elusive species. Targeting them on their beds during spawning season is an effective spearing tactic that should only be done responsibly.

  • Burbot

    These ugly, snake-like fish are hard to target. Traditional anglers catch them on hard water while the fish migrate to shallower water to spawn. They prefer deep, cold water so you better bring a thick suit and some endurance.

  • Whitefish

    Whitefish are the best eating fish on the list of legal species you could spear before 2022. But, they’re very hard to target. They move to shallow waters late November-early December.

  • Carp

    Carp are confusing — some countries love eating them, we don’t. When prepared properly, they’re pretty good. There are many species of carp and they’re a great species to target for beginners. If you spear a big one, hang on or prepare to lose your gear.

  • Suckers

    Suckers are not carp, but they’re easy to get confused. There are many species of suckers including: Longnose, white, northern hog, spotted, redhorse, buffalo, lake chubsucker, and quillback carpsucker. Please don’t spear buffalo suckers, they’re old, wise, vulnerable and in decline. Unlike carp, they don’t have barbels under their mouth which makes ID easier.