Sturgeon Bay
Door County, Wisconsin
About Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is a scenic Door County lake worth knowing about, covering 4,945 acres. The lake has public boat landing access, making it easy to launch for a day on the water. Note that invasive species (Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, Phragmites (non-native), Purple Loosestrife, Spiny Waterflea, Starry Stonewort, Zebra Mussel) have been documented here — clean your boat before leaving.
Type: lake
Lake Location
44.86830° N, 87.39740° W
WBIC 88 · Wisconsin DNRLocal's Guide
Fishing
Species-specific tips above. Wisconsin fishing license required for ages 16+. See current season regulations below.
View fishing regulations ↓Swimming
Check conditions before swimming. No lifeguard on duty. Watch for aquatic vegetation near shorelines.
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Nearby Dining
Looking for supper clubs and bait shops near Sturgeon Bay? Local dining recommendations coming soon.
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Insider Tips
Local knowledge about Sturgeon Bay — best times to visit, quiet spots, and what the regulars know. Contributed tips coming soon.
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Lake Conditions
Water Clarity
—
No data
Trophic Status
—
No data
Invasive Weeds
Present
Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, Phragmites (non-native), Purple Loosestrife, Spiny Waterflea, Starry Stonewort, Zebra Mussel
Seasonal Notes
Coming soon
Ice-out dates, peak fishing windows
Condition data sourced from Wisconsin DNR surveys. Real-time weed and clarity reports coming soon.
Invasive Species Present
Curly-Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Water-Milfoil and Phragmites (non-native) and Purple Loosestrife and Spiny Waterflea and Starry Stonewort and Zebra Mussel have been documented in Sturgeon Bay. Clean, drain, and dry all watercraft and equipment before leaving.
Report sightings to the Wisconsin DNR invasive species hotline.Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a public boat launch on Sturgeon Bay?
Yes — Sturgeon Bay has 4 boat landings providing watercraft access. Check for posted local ordinances at the landing before launching.
How big is Sturgeon Bay?
Sturgeon Bay has 4,945 acres in surface area.
Are there invasive species in Sturgeon Bay?
Yes — Curly-Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Water-Milfoil and Phragmites (non-native) and Purple Loosestrife and Spiny Waterflea and Starry Stonewort and Zebra Mussel have been documented in Sturgeon Bay. Please clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and all equipment before leaving any Wisconsin water body to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Where is Sturgeon Bay located?
Sturgeon Bay is located in Door County, Wisconsin. GPS coordinates: 44.8683° N, 87.3974° W.
Are there vacation rentals on Sturgeon Bay?
Stay Northern is building the most complete rental directory for Door County lakes. Check our Sturgeon Bay vacation rentals listing — if none are available yet, check back soon or browse nearby Door County lake rentals.
Fishing Regulations
Current season regulations for Sturgeon Bay
| Species | Season | Min. Length | Daily Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullheads | , to March 31, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Bullheads | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Bullheads | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Catfish | , to March 31, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. | — |
| Catfish | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Catfish | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. | — |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. | — |
| Catfish | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Cisco And Whitefish | , to March 31, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. | — |
| Cisco And Whitefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Cisco And Whitefish | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. | — |
| Cisco And Whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. | — |
| Cisco And Whitefish | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Lake Sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Lake Sturgeon | Closed | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Largemouth Bass | , to June 12, 2026 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Largemouth Bass | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Largemouth Bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Largemouth Bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Largemouth Bass | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass | June 20, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Largemouth Bass And Smallmouth Bass | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Muskellunge And Hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. | — |
| Northern Pike | , to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Northern Pike | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Northern Pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Northern Pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2. | — |
| Northern Pike | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Northern Pike | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. | — |
| Northern Pike | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Paddlefish | Closed | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Panfish | , to March 31, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. | — |
| Panfish | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Panfish | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. | — |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. | — |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. | — |
| Panfish | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rock, Yellow, And White Bass | , to March 31, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rock, Yellow, And White Bass | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Rock, Yellow, And White Bass | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rock, Yellow, And White Bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rock, Yellow, And White Bass | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rough Fish | , to March 31, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rough Fish | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Rough Fish | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rough Fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Rough Fish | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Round Goby | , to March 31, 2027 | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Round Goby | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Round Goby | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Round Goby | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office, Hook and line fishing is open all year for fish species except muskellunge, lake sturgeon, trout, paddlefish and threatened or endangered species. | — |
| Round Goby | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Round Goby | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Round Goby | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Ruffe | , to March 31, 2027 | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Ruffe | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Ruffe | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Ruffe | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office, Hook and line fishing is open all year for fish species except muskellunge, lake sturgeon, trout, paddlefish and threatened or endangered species. | — |
| Ruffe | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Ruffe | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Ruffe | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | Closed | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | , to June 12, 2026 | Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only). | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only). | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited. | — |
| Trout | See specific regulations | https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/ . | — |
| Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids | , to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3. | — |
| Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 24" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3. | — |
| Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3. | — |
| Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids | Open All Year | The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3. | — |
| Walleye, Sauger, And Hybrids | Open All Year | Three walleye and sauger may be kept. Sauger must be at least 15" and walleye must be at least 18". | — |
| White Perch | , to March 31, 2027 | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| White Perch | Closed | No fishing allowed. | — |
| White Perch | May 2, 2026 to October 15, 2026 | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| White Perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office, Hook and line fishing is open all year for fish species except muskellunge, lake sturgeon, trout, paddlefish and threatened or endangered species. | — |
| White Perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
| White Perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0. One may be killed and transported to a WDNR Office. | — |
| White Perch | Open All Year | There is no minimum length and the bag limit is unlimited, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. | — |
Regulations sourced from Wisconsin DNR fisheries data. Always verify current regulations before fishing.
Lake Details
- WBIC
- 88
- County
- Door County
- Surface Area
- 4,945 acres
- Lake Type
- lake
- Coordinates
- 44.8683, -87.3974
Boat Rentals Nearby
Pontoon
Listing soonFishing Boat + Motor
Listing soonKayak / Canoe
Listing soonKnow a local boat rental operator near Sturgeon Bay? Let us know.
Boat Landings (4)
Boat Landing 1
Boat Landing 2
Boat Landing 3
Boat Landing 4
Lake data sourced from the Wisconsin DNR. Last updated 3/24/2026.