New Emergency Regulations for Invasive Round Goby in Winnebago System | The Locally Times
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has implemented new processing requirements for anglers capturing invasive round gobies within the Winnebago System.
On 2026-06-18, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved an emergency rule regarding the invasive round goby. This regulation, which remains in effect from 2026-06-19 through 2026-11-16, mandates that any round gobies harvested by anglers in the Winnebago System must be eviscerated, decapitated, or have their gills removed. The invasive species was first confirmed in Lake Winnebago on 2025-06-02 after an angler report. Previously, the species had been identified in 2015 within Little Lake Butte des Morts, located along the Lower Fox River. The round goby is known for its single fused pelvic fin and a black spot on the first dorsal fin. Because these fish can displace native populations, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requires anglers to report all captures using an online tool. The Fox River Navigational System Authority continues to maintain the closure of the Menasha lock to prevent further spread of the species. Monitoring projects remain active to track the presence of the fish in the 235,000 acre region. ## Key Questions 1. What must an angler do if they catch a round goby in the Winnebago System? Anglers are required to decapitate the fish, eviscerate it, or remove its gills, and then report the catch to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources using their online reporting tool. 2. When does this emergency rule expire? The emergency rule is scheduled to remain in effect until 2026-11-16.