Did THIS FISH Ruin the Great Lakes? (Story of the Round Goby)

The Round Goby is an invasive species that has quickly taken over the Great Lakes. How did they get here and are they really that big of a problem?

Joining us today is Dr. John Lyons, Curator of Fishes at the UW Zoological Museum. Since we are fishing with John and collecting some gobies for scientific purposes we have the permits to hold these fish in a temporary tank. If you catch a Round Goby in Lake Michigan DO NOT transport it away from the lake alive. You may keep one dead specimen to take to a local DNR office if you need an identification.

#Fish #Milwaukee #LakeMichigan

Thanks to Bri and Ryan for joining me as well!

[BadgerlandFishes]

For those of you commenting on killing Round Gobies, and why it's not emphasized in this video when catching them in Lake Michigan, here is some more information on current practices scientists are using to stop the spread of Round Gobies.

"Management of Round Goby


The eradication of round goby from the Great Lakes is impossible, but preventative and early
detection methods could lead to successful eradication efforts on a small scale. Bait trade and
boating laws in the Great Lake states and Ontario make possession of the species prohibited.
Continued improvements to ballast water regulations concerning both no-ballast-on-board ships
and ballast water exchange can also help prevent further introduction into the Great Lakes
(Duggan et al. 2005). "

[alexbadillo]

I was wondering why would you throw them back If there are a invasive species?

[tomglunt]

I live Lake Erie and yes it is true that due to the Lake Erie water snake eating the round goby, it is no longer on the endangered species list. We have always heard that a great deal of Lake Erie's cleaning process, came from the zebra muscles, another invasive species. The cleaner water, increased our perch and walleye population. Recently, the amount of perch that a fisherman can take per day, has been decreased. A few years ago, I was at East Harbor State Park and spoke with a few fisherman. They commented that in the Sandusky Bay, they catch more small mouth bass, than perch or walleye. They attributed this to a dirtier lake, because the round goby is eating the zebra muscle. Their opinion was that dirty water was a better ecosystem for small mouth than perch and walleye. I don't know if this is true. My question is that if the food chain/web is zebra muscle<round goby<small mouth bass< human. Are we eating a dirty fish?

[luukv]

Here in The Netherlands they are an invasive species, and took a hold of most large rivers and canals in the country. It has become hard to catch any other species as the Round Goby is an incredible aggressive fish that even bites in empty hooks. They also attacked my plugs and spinners on multiple occasions with many at a time. It almost reminded me of piranhas at times.

Anyways, thanks for uploading! It was a nice insight about the state of the Great Lakes in America but it saddens me to see that this fish is not only a problem here in Europe.

Greetings to all!

[BassManStrikes]

The DNR should plant smallmouth in numbers they love them and it would make a awesome smallmouth fishery. We already have them as they come out of the Milwaukee river but the numbers in the lake are not that great.

[BassManStrikes]

Nice job on the video :-) I hadn't realized you published a new one.

[cooperniess]

Hey I watched this video because I've been catching a lot of these fish and I am now subscribed because it was great

[stick]

This video solved a 10 year question I had. I fought a goby out of the Menominee river on badwater lake. I thought it was some kind of catfish because I had never seen one and I’d been fishing there forever!!! Thanks

[wlnlax]

What is the name of the silver fish @ 0:16 seconds?

[boatpersonality]

Would love to learn more about the baitfish of Wisconsin - spawning, behavior etc. Thinking about native shad populations, shiner, other minnows. Not a lot of information out there that I could find

[GeoFishing]

Cool video. Great food for many thriving Lake Michigan species

[sgt.puddingslaps]

If you ever catch one of these DO NOT release them back into the lake/river. Kill them or use them as bait.

[trowwzers]

I caught my first goby today in the Huron River. I was fishing in the rocks for rockbass and bluegill

[bryanjones]

I love in Muskegon Michigan, avid fishermen ! Our walleyes have figured out how to eat them 😂 .... I've caught perch with them in there belly also

[dankoch]

THROW IT BACK??? I've always been instructed to leave the Fers on the pier to die.

[MachoDivine]

that face when he dropped the goby on the floor he gave a face like i hope no one comments about that

[AllMedia]

I seen these in the Beer Garden in Milwaukee, Wisconsin pooled up in the River that I am assuming feeds into the Great Lakes.

[vicbanks]

Interesting vdo thanks. If you catch one why you have throw them back? They're non-native and destructive, so why let 'em go??

[madtownangler]

The last time I fished Lake Michigan in Milwaukee Harbor every time a nightcrawler hit the bottom I had a goby. I caught one hundred of them and have never bottom fished Lake Michigan ever again.

[YaBoJack]

Hey i live in wisconsin and love fishing this vid was great, maybe for studying different species possibly see how other species to using a goby as bait