The Most Elusive Freshwater Fish
Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Published: September 23, 2022
Fishermen from all over the country come to fish the St. Lawrence River with the goal to catch a wide variety of sportfish, including Musky. A Musky is a very powerful and large freshwater fish that are not only difficult to catch, but extremely rare to hook on your line. Over the past 20 years, biologists in the state of New York have documented significant decreases within the population of Musky due to a combination of habitat loss, round goby, and a Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus.
Organizations throughout the state are taking action to increase the Musky population. During the spring, male and female musky are caught and released for a new experimental stocking project to boost the Musky population back to an adequate level. Egg fertilization is carefully completed by the teams involved. Once the eggs have hatched and the fish reach an inch in length, they begin to be released back into the St. Lawrence River by mid-summer.
If you happen to catch one of these rare and elusive fish, it is advised to release the Musky and handle them with care to ensure the species lasts for years to come.
Read the full article on this elusive species from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with this link.
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