MARQUETTE –The Michigan Department of Natural Resources asks anglers to participate in the muskellunge angler survey to help DNR biologists obtain valuable data on this important sport fish.

The muskellunge season began on June 3.

“Muskellunge are difficult to survey, so biologists are dependent upon information provided by anglers to help us manage this species, DNR fisheries biologist Neal Godby in Gaylord said.

“Angler survey reports give us insight into the relative abundance of muskellunge in a waterbody, size structure of the population, and whether the muskellunge in that waterbody are creating a fishery,” Godby said in a news release.

The DNR’s online muskellunge angler survey gathers information about muskellunge angler demographics and catch data, such as length of fish caught, angler effort, water body fished and methods used.

Since 2014, fisheries managers have used survey data to recommend fishing regulation changes to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, evaluate the muskellunge stocking program and understand more about self-sustaining populations.

The survey is limited to one entry per person, per trip. However, the DNR encourages people to complete a survey for every fishing trip in which muskellunge are targeted or encountered.

View the summary at bit.ly/3IYR5eC for past survey data.

Muskellunge season is open to catch and immediate release year-round, with the possession season opening statewide the first Saturday in June. Anglers are limited to taking only one muskellunge per license year and are required to register their harvest by calling 888-636-7778, online at Michigan.gov/RegisterFish or on the new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app.