By Emily Bingham | ebingham@mlive.com

LANSING, MICH. -- The 2022 fishing license season is set to begin in Michigan, and with it will come expanded opportunities for anglers interested in spearfishing.

Starting April 1, underwater spearfishing in Michigan will expand to include the chance to harvest additional species, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

In addition to previous DNR-approved species, acceptable species for underwater spearfishing will now include walleye, northern pike and lake trout in Lake Michigan (specifically in waters south of the southernmost pier at Grand Haven) and Lake Huron (in waters south of the southernmost pier of the Thunder Bay River, extending south to the mouth of the St. Clair River/Fort Gratiot Light).

This expansion requires that anglers obtain a new underwater spearfishing license; there are also monthly effort and harvest reporting requirements. The underwater spearfishing license is complimentary, unless a DNR Sportcard is needed, and will be available only online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.

More details on spearfishing regulations can be found on page 16 of the DNR’s 2022 fishing guide.

All 2022 fishing licenses are valid from April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023.

More information at the DNR’s Fishing in Michigan page.