It’s a fishing day

Sturgeon Bay (Door County) fishing conditions · Wisconsin

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 94.

Log a trip here
Right now: 94 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, 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.

  1. 943 pm
  2. 94
  3. 90
  4. 906 pm
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 769 pm
  8. 80
  9. 80
  10. 76Sun
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 683 am
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 806 am
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 689 am
  20. 72
  21. 72
  22. 7212 pm
  23. 68
  24. 76
  25. 763 pm
  26. 80
  27. 76
  28. 766 pm
  29. 76
  30. 76
  31. 769 pm
  32. 76
  33. 80
  34. 80Mon
  35. 76
  36. 76
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the west-southwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:30 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
48°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

94GoNow until 7 pm

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Green Bay and waters within 5 miles of the Door County shoreline: smallmouth harvest Jul 1, 2026–Mar 7, 2027, 14" minimum, 5 a day; catch and release the rest of the year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Green Bay and within 5 miles of the Door County shore

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Green Bay and the Fox River: 15 a day, no minimum, open May 20, 2026–Mar 15, 2027.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Green Bay

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Muskellunge is here Jun–Oct. 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

Last checked 15 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 muskellunge

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here Jun–Oct. 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 20 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
  • Barometer30.04 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:30 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:37 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:00 pm–4:00 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

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.

Nearby

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

Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)24 mi · WisconsinBest now until 7 pm
100Go
Green Bay (Bay Beach, Green Bay)36 mi · WisconsinBest now until 7 pm
94Go

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.