Round Goby ⚠ Invasive
🔬 Neogobius melanostomus
A small, aggressive bottom-dwelling fish from the Black and Caspian Sea region, introduced via ballast water around 1990. Frog-like appearance with bulging eyes and a distinctive fused pelvic fin (suction disc) used to cling to rocks in current. Now one of the most abundant fish in the Great Lakes. Has fundamentally altered Great Lakes food webs -- both devastating to native species and now an important food source for smallmouth bass, lake trout, and brown trout.
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Best season
Year-round
Where to Catch Round Goby in Michigan
| Lake | County | Population |
|---|---|---|
|
Burt Lake
17,120 acres
|
Cheboygan | |
|
Charlevoix Lake
17,260 acres
|
Charlevoix | |
|
Cheboygan Lake
640 acres
|
Cheboygan | |
|
Douglas Lake
3,400 acres
|
Cheboygan | |
|
Duck Lake
490 acres
|
Muskegon | |
|
Indian Lake
8,689 acres
|
Schoolcraft | |
|
Lake Gogebic
13,380 acres
|
Gogebic | |
|
Lake Michigamme
4,149 acres
|
Marquette | |
|
Lake St. Clair
260,000 acres
|
Macomb | |
|
Manistee Lake
930 acres
|
Manistee | |
|
Mullett Lake
16,630 acres
|
Cheboygan | |
|
Muskegon Lake
4,150 acres
|
Muskegon | |
|
Muskegon Lake
4,150 acres
|
Muskegon |
Round Goby Conservation Status
⚠ Invasive Round Goby is considered an invasive species in Michigan. Arrived in Great Lakes ballast water circa 1990 from the Ponto-Caspian region. Now the most abundant fish on rocky Great Lakes bottom. Eats eggs and young of lake trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, and native bottom fish. Displaces native sculpin and logperch. However, has become critical forage for recovering lake trout and trophy smallmouth bass. Illegal to use as live bait or transport live in Michigan.
Round Goby Habitat & Behavior
Rocky and sandy bottoms in all Great Lakes and connecting rivers. Spreading into inland Michigan waters via connected river systems and illegal bait releases. Displaces native sculpins, darters, and logperch from rocky habitat. DNR records show Round Goby present in 13 Michigan water bodies.
Best Round Goby Techniques
Small tube jigs and drop-shot rigs on bottom in Great Lakes and river habitats. Illegal to use as live bait in Michigan. Any round goby caught must be killed -- do not return to water.
Angler Tips for Round Goby
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