The round goby may pose a serious
threat to North American water ecosystems, with potential impacts
on sport and commercial fishing. Since its discovery in the St.
Clair River in 1990, these bottom-dwelling fish has rapidly spread
to many areas of the Great Lakes. Once established, populations
typically increase rapidly. The round goby can displace native
fish, eat their eggs and young, take over optimal habitat, spawn
multiple times a season, and survive in poor quality water –
giving them a competitive advantage.
Anglers, commercial fishermen, and
fishery professionals should know how to identify the round goby.
Often, anglers are the first to discover round gobies because
these aggressive fish are commonly caught by hook and line. Your
help is vital to report new sightings and to prevent their spread.
What you can do
Learn to identify the round goby
(see below picture). If you catch one in the Great Lakes or other
waters, call the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Advisory
Services at UW-Green Bay, (414) 465-2795, or the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Fishery Resource Office in Ashland, (715)
682-6185, or a local Wisconsin DNR office. Always drain water from
your boat, livewell, and bilge before leaving any water access.
Always empty your bait bucket on land, never into the water. Never
dip your bait bucket into a lake or river if it has water in it
from another. Never dump live fish from one body of water into
another.
REMINDER: Know the rules!
Round goby specimens are needed to
confirm sightings, but many Great Lakes jurisdictions have
differing rules regarding possession and transport. Always contact
your local resource management agency for instructions. Never
transport a live round goby.
General
Characteristics