Emergency Rule Created for Round Goby Becomes Permanent
Original Story: WI DNR
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that the Natural Resources Board has approved a new permanent rule, effective as of Nov. 1, 2026, changing the possession and bag limit for round gobies and other detrimental fish species on waters of the state.
Under this new permanent rule, gobies and ruffe from any waterbody of the state can be kept without limit, however, they must be immediately eviscerated or decapitated or have their gills removed. This rule also allows anglers to possess an unlimited number of white perch; any white perch harvested on inland waters also need to be eviscerated, decapitated or have their gills removed.
Anglers are still asked to report any goby captured in the Winnebago System using the DNR’s online goby reporting tool. Since the round goby findings near Oshkosh in 2025, angler harvest and reporting of all gobies taken is essential for tracking the species’ invasion.
The DNR had previously approved an emergency rule in June 2026 to allow anglers to to keep in their possession any harvested round gobies provided that the fish are eviscerated, decapitated or had their gills removed. The Natural Resources Board approved the rule to now be permanent.
Any detrimental fish species caught in inland waters should be reported to the local fisheries biologist.
Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!
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The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.
Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.
