Sturgeon Bay (Door County) fishing conditions · Wisconsin

Now until tomorrow 2 pmMuskellunge

The bite peaks at 80.

Right now: 76 for muskellunge, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Muskellunge, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

762 am
76
76
765 am
76
76
808 am
76
76
7611 am
80
80
762 pm
76
76
765 pm
80
76
768 pm
76
76
7611 pm
76Tue
80
802 am
76
76
765 am
76
76
768 am
80
76
7611 am
76
80

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 8 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Isolated Rain Showers
Air: 52°F
Barometer: Steady
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Wisconsin regulations for these waters.

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

80Worth the tripNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Muskellunge feeds aggressively under full moon. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

54" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lake Michigan and Green Bay north of Waldo Boulevard, Manitowoc: 54" minimum, 1 a day, open water May 23–Dec 31, 2026. South of Waldo Boulevard: 40" minimum, May 2–Dec 31.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin

Season here: Jun–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on muskellunge

Walleye

Sander vitreus

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 5 a day (Jan 1–Mar 7, May 1–Dec 31); 15" minimum · 1 a day (Mar 8–Apr 30)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lake Michigan and Green Bay north of Waldo Boulevard, Manitowoc: 15" minimum; 5 a day May 2, 2026–Mar 7, 2027 and 1 a day Mar 8–Apr 30, 2027 (it was 1 a day Mar 2–May 1, 2026). South of Waldo Boulevard: 5 a day all year. The Fox River from the mouth to the De Pere dam has its own rule: 1 a day at 28" in the spring windows, 3 a day with no minimum May 2–Mar 7.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin

Season here: Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lake Michigan: 14" minimum, 5 a day from the first Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March (May 2, 2026–Mar 7, 2027; reopens May 1, 2027), catch and release the rest of the year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin

Season here: May–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lake Michigan: 5 a day, no minimum, closed May 1–Jun 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Wisconsin

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Wisconsin Great Lakes waters: bullheads and rough fish, common carp included, are open all year with no bag limit and no size limit.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Wisconsin

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.39 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:19 am
Sunset today5:47 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
Major solunarToday 11:50 am–1:50 pm
Minor solunarToday 5:10 pm–6:10 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Wisconsin DNR has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The Door County bay on Green Bay famous for trophy smallmouth bass and a renowned spring walleye fishery, plus muskellunge and yellow perch. A national-caliber smallmouth destination fished hard each spring around the shipping canal and reefs.

Smallmouth harvest opens Jul 1 (14" minimum, 5 a day); catch and release before that. Walleye 15" minimum, 5 a day, dropping to 1 a day Mar 8–Apr 30, 2027.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesWisconsin
WhereDoor County · 44.8300, -87.3700

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)24 mi · WisconsinBest now until tomorrow 2 pm

78Worth the trip

Green Bay (Bay Beach, Green Bay)36 mi · WisconsinBest now until tomorrow 2 pm

80Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Sturgeon Bay (Door County)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Sturgeon Bay (Door County) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Sturgeon Bay (Door County)?

Sturgeon Bay (Door County) is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Yellow Perch, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Sturgeon Bay (Door County)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Sturgeon Bay (Door County) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Sturgeon Bay (Door County) have?

Sturgeon Bay (Door County) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Smallmouth harvest opens Jul 1 (14" minimum, 5 a day); catch and release before that. Walleye 15" minimum, 5 a day, dropping to 1 a day Mar 8–Apr 30, 2027.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Sturgeon Bay (Door County)?

state agency regulations apply at Sturgeon Bay (Door County). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Sturgeon Bay (Door County) tidal water?

No. Sturgeon Bay (Door County) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.