Muskellunge Esox masquinongy

How they feed

• Water55–78°F, best near 68°
• TideEither, as long as it moves
• MoonFull
• DepthUsually 10–40 ft

Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works

Season by state

• PennsylvaniaMay–Oct
• MinnesotaJun–Sep
• WisconsinJun–Oct
• IowaMay–Oct
• MarylandMay–Jul, Sep–Nov
• MichiganMay–Oct
• VirginiaMay–Jul, Sep–Nov

The Maryland, Delaware and Virginia months are the Chesapeake-region season. Everywhere else it is carried over by water temperature: a month counts at a spot when its usual water is in the range that marks the mid-Atlantic season (58°F and warmer), from the spot’s own gauge where it has one and an estimate from air temperature where it doesn’t. Each state lists the months that hold at half or more of its spots. Where the water temperatures come from.

Keep or release

• Iowa non-tidal40" minimum · 1 a dayIowa: 40" minimum, 1 muskellunge or tiger muskie a day. Open all year except on Spirit Lake, the Okobojis and the Minnesota boundary lakes (May 21–Nov 30).Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Maryland non-tidal36" minimum · 1 a dayMaryland nontidal waters: muskellunge and tiger muskie 36" minimum, 1 a day (2 in possession), open all year. May not be used as bait.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Michigan42" minimum · 1 a dayMichigan: 42" minimum, 1 muskellunge per angler per license year (Apr 1–Mar 31), registered within 24 hours. Great Lakes possession season is the first Saturday in June (Jun 5 in 2027) to Mar 15; catch and immediate release otherwise.Great lakes waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Minnesota54" minimum · 1 a dayMinnesota: 54" minimum, 1 a day. Season is the first Saturday in June through Nov 30 (Jun 5–Nov 30, 2027).Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Pennsylvania40" minimum · 1 a dayLake Erie and Presque Isle Bay: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 40" minimum, 1 a day, open all year.Great lakes waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Pennsylvania40" minimum · 1 a day40" minimum, 1/day combined with tiger muskellunge. Open year-round.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
• Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)40" minimum · 1 a dayVirginia statewide: 1 a day, 40" minimum. On the New River from Claytor Dam to the West Virginia line, no muskie 40–48" may be kept Jun 1 to the last day of February, and none under 48" Mar 1–May 31.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Wisconsin54" minimum · 1 a dayLake 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.Great lakes waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Wisconsin non-tidal40" minimum · 1 a dayWisconsin inland: 40" minimum, 1 muskellunge a day. Open water only, from the first Saturday in May through Dec 31.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked

Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Muskellunge are fished at spots in 7 states: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin.