Fishing regulations

See the fishing guide for current fishing rules and regulations. The 2024 Fishing Guide is in effect until March 31, 2025. For a full list of regulations and legal descriptions, see the Fisheries Orders.

Inland trout and salmon maps

Maps have been developed to assist you in identifying inland trout waters and the regulations associated with each waterbody type. These maps should be used along with the current Fishing Guide.

Walleye sport fishing regulations

St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and Lake Erie:

Michigan bag limits for all four waterbodies are now the same and are updated each year on May 1 and run through the following April. Please see the 2024 walleye sport fishing regulations PDF for a map and full explanation of the regulations.

Below are the 2024 regulations at a glance:

• Six fish per day
• Open all year
• 15" size limit
• Three rods per angler

• Six fish per day
• Open all year
• No size limit
• Two lines/boat angler (Lake St. Clair)

• Six fish per day
• Open all year
• 15" size limit
• Three rods per angler

• Six fish per day
• Open all year
• No size limit
• One line per angler

• Six fish per day
• Open all year
• 15" size limit
• Three rods per angler

• Six fish per day
• Open all year
• No size limit
• Two lines/boat angler

• Six fish per day
• Open all year
• 15" size limit
• Three rods per angler

Mandatory harvest registration

Certain fish species are now required to be registered when harvested. Currently, lake sturgeon and muskellunge have mandatory reporting requirements. If you harvest a lake sturgeon or muskellunge, you must report it within 24 hours.

How to register your harvest

• Online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses OR
• By phone at 888-636-7778

You must register your harvest online or by phone. Harvest registration can NOT be done at fish hatcheries, DNR field offices or customer service centers. *Exception: sturgeon harvested during the Black Lake sturgeon season, see below.

*Black Lake sturgeon

Lake sturgeon harvested at Black Lake must be registered immediately on-site with DNR personnel. Instructions will be given when you register for the fishery and obtain a flag (see Black Lake section in the Fishing Guide).

Why do we require registration?

• These species can be sensitive to harvest, and knowing the number harvested helps to understand the needed management.
• Registering your harvest provides helpful information on successes of stocking.
• These fish are a late-maturing, long-lived species and knowing what sizes these fish are being harvested is helpful to maintain a healthy population.