LANSING — A new order from the Natural Resources Commission will open more of the Great Lakes to recreational spearfishing.

Proponents of spearfishing say that the expanded reach will allow more people to try the sport and could spark more interest in the outdoors.

Spearfishing is relatively small compared to other outdoor activities in Michigan. The Department of Natural Resources says that fewer than 500 fish are caught by spearfishers each year.

For context, the DNR says that it has stocked more than 18 million fish just in the year 2025. More than a million fishing licenses are issued in Michigan annually.

Jonathan Durtka, president of the Michigan Spearfishing Association, says that the activity lets participants appreciate Michigan’s natural resources from a new angle.

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