Otolith (ear bone) from a 28-inch walleye

Green Bay supports one of the most prominent walleye fisheries in North America that attracts anglers from across the continent and contributes millions of dollars to local economies. Green Bay is a top destination for competitive walleye tournaments and WICFRU has coordinated with Wisconsin DNR and tournament organizations to collect important information from the fish caught in these tournaments. USGS researchers at the Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit (WICFRU) are partnering with the Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources to better understand spawning locations and distribution of walleyes in Green Bay. This is a photograph of an otolith (ear bone) from a 28-inch walleye caught in a walleye tournament in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Estimated age = 25 years.