Prehistoric Beast Is the Largest Fish In Michigan

Imagine swimming in Lake Michigan or one of its basins, looking down as you tread water, and seeing what can only be described as a prehistoric beast swimming below. Don't panic; you're not on the menu but seeing a living piece of Michigan history.

Move over, Jurassic Park. Michigan has its very own giant swimming in the Great Lakes. This creature's ancestors swam with dinosaurs, so it is unsurprisingly the largest fish in Michigan. The experts at the Shedd Aquarium say the Lake Sturgeon, a torpedo-shaped relic, has called Earth home for over 136 million years.

RELATED: The Largest Fish Caught in Michigan: 58 Record Catches

Here's what's surprised me: they've barely changed. Over 136 million years in existence, and it's like evolution took one look at it and said, "That'll do!".

Lake Sturgeon: Michigan's Endangered Behemoth

Lake Sturgeon is the largest and most massive fish species in Michigan. If the Great Lakes were a highway, they'd be semi-trucks. These scaly giants can grow up to nine feet long and tip the scales at nearly 200 pounds.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the largest Lake Sturgeon "legally harvested" in Michigan weighed 193 pounds and was taken from Cheboygan County's Mullett Lake. The DNR says that Lake Sturgeons exceeding 300 pounds have been "observed" in the Great Lakes Basin. 

Preserving Lake Sturgeon in Michigan

Before you head to the shed to grab your pole, hold up. These majestic creatures are considered endangered, thanks to overfishing and destruction of their habitat. Though State, Federal, and Tribal efforts are being made to restock them, this takes time. Male Lake Sturgeon don't hit sexual majority until they're 12 years old, females as late as 33 years.

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With an average lifespan of around 55 years and some living over 100, Michigan's Lake Sturgeon deserves a chance to thrive in the Great Lakes again. With proper management and respect, we could see it in our lifetime.