Sturgeon Bay Fishing
A 4,945-acre Wisconsin lake in Door County.
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Sturgeon Bay, the essentials
Sturgeon Bay covers 4,945 acres in Door County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. Groceries and gas are in Sturgeon Bay, around 3 miles from the water. On the WDNR map it belongs to the Northeast Region.
Boaters use 4 public boat landings. Clarity from satellite data averages 9.8 feet (2017).
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- Sawyer Park Boat Ramp5 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, fish cleaning, Sturgeon Bay Parks & Rec Dept.
- Olde Stone Quarry Park Boat Ramp4 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, public
- Potawatomi State Park Access4 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, fish cleaning, Potawatomi State Park
- Sunset Park Launching Ramp2 lanes, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Sturgeon Bay Parks & Rec Dept.
Nearby ramps for Sturgeon Bay
- Lily Bay Park Boat RampLake Michigan, 7 miles east
- Roadside off of S. Lake Michigan Drive Boat Landing near Sturgeon BayLake Michigan, 8 miles southeast
- Robert M. Carmody Park Boat RampLittle Sturgeon Bay, 8 miles west
- S. Lake Michigan Drive Carry-in Boat LandingLake Michigan, 8 miles southeast
- Whitefish Bay RampLake Michigan, 9 miles east
- Clark Lake AccessClark Lake, 10 miles northeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Sturgeon Bay clarity and bottom
The DNR lists curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, phragmites (non-native), purple loosestrife, spiny waterflea, starry stonewort and zebra mussel as invasive species in Sturgeon Bay. Never move live bait or water from it.
Posted ordinances for Sturgeon Bay address slow-no-wake areas.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Sturgeon Bay
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 3 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Northern pike (north of Hwy 10) | 5; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Largemouth bass | 5; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass (Southern Bass Zone) | 5 in total with largemouth bass; minimum length 14 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum length 40 inches | May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Panfish | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bullheads and rough fish | No bag limit; no minimum length | Open all year |
Lacking a WDNR record for Sturgeon Bay, the table shows the statewide rows.
Door County note in the guide: Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). Door County inland waters are in the Northern Bass Zone (see base regulations on page 12).
The Hwy 10 pike line puts Sturgeon Bay on its north side; bass rows follow the Southern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
WDNR hatchery releases in Sturgeon Bay
From 2023 through 2025 the DNR logged 4 stockings in Sturgeon Bay totaling 31,297 fish.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 10.88 in | 3,499 |
| 2024 | Brown trout | yearling | 6.4 in | 23,298 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11.73 in | 3,500 |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | yearling | 10.27 in | 1,000 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Nearby lakes and Sturgeon Bay in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon Bay | 4,945 | 4 | |||
| Bradley Lake, Door County | 2 miles southeast | 20 | 7 | 0 | simple harsh has fishery |
| Little Sturgeon Bay | 8 miles west | 1,068 | 1 | ||
| Clark Lake, Door County | 11 miles northeast | 865 | 25 | 1 | complex cool dark |
| Forestville Flowage | 13 miles southwest | 65 | 5 | 1 | simple riverine |
| Kangaroo Lake | 16 miles northeast | 1,156 | 12 | 2 | complex cool dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Sturgeon Bay
Wisconsin lakes around Sturgeon Bay
- Bradley Lake, Door County2 miles southeast
- Little Sturgeon Bay8 miles west
- Clark Lake, Door County11 miles northeast
- Forestville Flowage13 miles southwest
- Kangaroo Lake16 miles northeast
Where anglers buy bait around Sturgeon Bay
- The Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Sturgeon Bay, 2 miles
- Walmart Sturgeon Bayfarm and general store with fishing gear, Sturgeon Bay, 2 miles
- Great Lakes Yacht Servicesmarina, Sturgeon Bay, 3 miles
- Centerpointe Marinamarina, Sturgeon Bay, 3 miles
- The Harbor Club Marinamarina, Sturgeon Bay, 3 miles
- Bay Shore Outfitters, 59 N. Madison Ave.bait and tackle shop, Sturgeon Bay, 3 miles
Guides who fish Sturgeon Bay
- Angler's Edge Sportfishing ChartersGreen Bay charter, Sturgeon Bay, (906) 630-1492
- Hitman ChartersGreen Bay charter, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 609-7788
- Hook Em & Cook EmGreen Bay charter, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 495-5912
- J-E Fishing EnterprisesGreen Bay charter, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 743-7877
- JJs Guide ServiceGreen Bay charter, Door County, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 493-2953
- Leprechaun Fishing Charters, LLCGreen Bay charter, Door County, Sturgeon Bay, (612) 799-1453
- S/V Talisman Sailing ChartersGreen Bay charter, Door County, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 559-9124
- Salmon Depot Charter FishingGreen Bay charter, Sturgeon Bay, (715) 340-8509
Home bases for a trip to Sturgeon Bay
- Sturgeon Bay3 miles
- Little Sturgeon9 miles
- Forestville13 miles
County guides for Sturgeon Bay
- Door Countyseat: Sturgeon Bay
Piscifun picks matched to Sturgeon Bay
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Species you may hook at Sturgeon Bay
Photo: Thefishingnomad youtube, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Rob Foster, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Questions anglers bring up about Sturgeon Bay
Which WDNR region covers Sturgeon Bay?
It sits in Door County, WDNR Northeast Region, about 3 miles from Sturgeon Bay.
How large and deep is Sturgeon Bay?
WDNR lists 4,945 acres.
Is there a public boat landing on Sturgeon Bay?
The WDNR maps 4 mapped landings; start with Sawyer Park Boat Ramp.
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Sturgeon Bay?
Its fish are not listed by the DNR.
Does Sturgeon Bay have its own WDNR regulations?
Statewide inland rules govern it.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Sturgeon Bay on a Wisconsin license?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
Is Sturgeon Bay a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 9.8 feet (2017).
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Sturgeon Bay?
Try The Bait Shop, around 2 miles off.
Does the WDNR stock fish in Sturgeon Bay?
The 2025 record lists 3,499 muskellunge.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Sturgeon Bay
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.