The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources completed a new 12,600-square-foot facility at Logan Fish Hatchery to produce warmwater fish species including channel catfish, walleye, and wipers. The facility uses recirculation aquaculture systems and will raise approximately 175,000 warmwater fish annually, supporting Utah's 30-year fish production plan.
The Gulf Council will hold a virtual meeting of its Standing Scientific and Statistical Committee on May 5, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern time. The SSC will review the Gulf Fishery-Independent Survey of Habitat and Ecosystem Resources (G-FISHER), a composite video survey designed to provide a comprehensive view of relative abundance by species across the Gulf.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources plans to stock nearly 52,000 trout this spring across 37 bodies of water in 22 counties. Rainbow trout stockings will occur before April 25, with brown trout stockings following in early May from Curtis Creek Trout Rearing Station.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is collecting steelhead eggs following storm damage at the Little Manistee River Weir. The Lower Platte River Weir has been deployed as a backup source to help meet the DNR's target of 3.5 million eggs for state fish hatcheries this season.
Storm damage caused a power failure at the Little Manistee River Weir in Michigan, resulting in the loss of steelhead fish held for egg collection. The facility's main power, backup power, and notification system were damaged. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, led by Randy Claramunt, is working to collect eggs from remaining live fish to meet the 4.6 million egg quota for steelhead stocking.
The Gulf Council met in Mobile, Alabama in April 2026, taking final action on lane snapper catch limit increases and red grouper quota provisions. The Council also honored Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers Kyle Yurewitch and Matthew Rubenstein as the 2025 Law Enforcement Team of the Year and addressed shrimp stock assessments, recreational red snapper management, and proposed NOAA shark regulation changes.
The Gulf Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee recommended increasing lane snapper catch limits by over 200,000 pounds based on underwater video survey results showing the population can support additional harvest. The recommendation will be transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for implementation.
The Gulf Council approved withholding up to 408,000 pounds of commercial red grouper quota in 2027 to enable implementation of a 3-year pilot quota pool program under Reef Fish Amendment 63, which would increase access for participants in the grouper/tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Program.
The Gulf Council will host an in-person meeting of its Ad Hoc Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish IFQ Advisory Panel on April 21 in Tampa, Florida. The panel will evaluate Reef Fish Amendment 63 regarding a commercial red grouper quota pool pilot program and review IFQ permit requirements under Reef Fish Amendment 59A.
The Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon For Tomorrow, partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and tribal governments, seeks volunteers from mid-April through early June to guard lake sturgeon during spawning season along the Black River in Cheboygan County. The 20-year program has virtually eliminated poaching while protecting this threatened species.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources will begin steelhead egg collection at the Little Manistee River Weir on April 14, with the public invited to observe. The facility plans to collect 4.6 million eggs for distribution to Thompson State Fish Hatchery, Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, and hatcheries in Ohio and Indiana.
NOAA Fisheries announced the 2026 red snapper recreational federal for-hire season in the Gulf of America will run 147 days from June 1 through October 26, 2026. The federal for-hire component is allocated 3,380,574 pounds whole weight with an annual catch target of 3,076,322 pounds, representing a 19-day extension compared to the 2025 season.
The MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program invites volunteers to monitor water quality and fish habitat on Michigan's inland lakes. Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and administered with Michigan State University Extension, the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, and the Huron River Watershed Council, the program provides training, equipment, and data collection opportunities for community science participants.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources explains that winterkill is a normal phenomenon during spring thaw, particularly in shallow lakes and urban canals. Aaron Switzer, DNR fish production program manager, notes these localized events typically don't affect overall fish population health. Residents can report fish kills at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
NOAA Fisheries will distribute 545,576 pounds of withheld Deep-Water Grouper quota on April 1, 2026, as federal regulations require distribution if Amendment 58B implementing regulations are not finalized by June 1. IFQ shareholders will receive additional allocation based on their current DWG shares held.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources stocked approximately 3,050 retired adult trout from state fish hatcheries in the Huron River and Spring Mill Pond in southeast Michigan. The fish, ranging from 13 to 20 inches, include brown trout and rainbow trout, with special fishing regulations applying to each location through April.
Hatchery trout stocking operations will not occur at Mormon Reservoir and Little Camas Reservoir during the 2026 season due to low water levels caused by below-average snowpack. IDFG will redirect trout to other Magic Valley Region waters and continue monitoring conditions for potential resumption when levels recover.
Georgia's Coastal Resources Division is seeking public comment on a proposed amendment to saltwater fishing regulations that would allow certified shellfish master harvesters to collect maricultured oysters during summer months with expanded harvest windows, based on University of Georgia research showing safe practices when proper cooling and handling are followed.
Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the DNR Fisheries Division, U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are offering April workshops covering Great Lakes fishery research, fish populations, forage fish surveys, and fisheries management across multiple regions.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will host a public meeting on April 8 at the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho to share Bear Lake fishery updates and 2026 work plans. Biologists will present population trends and management work, followed by a question-and-answer session.