What is the biggest fish in Lake Ontario?

Lake Ontario, the smallest by surface area but one of the deepest of the Great Lakes, is home to a surprising array of large fish species. While anglers commonly dream of hooking trophy salmon or trout, the true giants of Lake Ontario are less well-known — and even more impressive. So, what exactly is the biggest fish in Lake Ontario? Let’s dive deep into the lake’s underwater world.

The Lake Sturgeon: Lake Ontario’s True Giant

The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) holds the title of the biggest fish native to Lake Ontario. This prehistoric species, often called a "living fossil," has roamed North American waters for over 135 million years, dating back to the time of the dinosaurs.

Lake sturgeon are massive, slow-growing fish that can reach extraordinary sizes. In Lake Ontario:

Average Adult Size: 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) long

Typical Weight: 50 to 150 pounds (23 to 68 kilograms)

Maximum Recorded Size: Over 7 feet (2.1 meters) long and more than 200 pounds (90+ kilograms)

These figures make the lake sturgeon the undisputed heavyweight champion of Lake Ontario.

Characteristics of Lake Sturgeon

Lake sturgeon are easily recognizable by their long, torpedo-shaped bodies, armor-like rows of bony plates (called scutes), and distinctive, whisker-like barbels near their mouths. They are bottom feeders, using their sensitive barbels to detect prey like snails, small fish, and insect larvae buried in the mud and sand.

Unlike most freshwater fish, sturgeon live incredibly long lives. Some individuals are believed to reach 80 to 150 years old, though many factors like pollution and fishing pressure can impact their lifespan.

Are There Other Big Fish in Lake Ontario?

While the lake sturgeon is the biggest by sheer size, Lake Ontario hosts other large fish species that are well-known among sport fishermen:

Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Introduced from the Pacific Ocean, Chinook salmon are the largest salmon species in Lake Ontario. They commonly weigh 15 to 30 pounds (7 to 14 kilograms), but trophy fish can exceed 40 pounds (18 kilograms).

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush): Native lake trout can grow quite large, often reaching 20 to 30 pounds (9 to 14 kilograms), with some surpassing 40 pounds (18 kilograms) in deeper parts of the lake.

Northern Pike (Esox lucius): In shallower weedy areas, northern pike can reach lengths of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) and weigh over 20 pounds (9 kilograms).

Though impressive, none of these fish quite match the sheer size and ancient presence of the lake sturgeon.

Conservation Status of Lake Sturgeon

Despite their massive size and long life spans, lake sturgeon populations in Lake Ontario have suffered serious declines over the past two centuries. Overfishing in the 1800s, habitat loss, dam construction, and pollution led to dramatic reductions in their numbers.

Today, the lake sturgeon is listed as a species of concern in the United States and a threatened species in Ontario, Canada. Conservation efforts are ongoing, including:

• Habitat restoration projects in key spawning tributaries.
• Fishing restrictions and catch-and-release practices.
• Monitoring and tagging programs to track sturgeon movements and population recovery.

Thanks to these efforts, sturgeon sightings and populations are slowly improving, offering hope that future generations will continue to marvel at Lake Ontario’s gentle giants.

In Conclusion

The lake sturgeon reigns supreme as the biggest fish in Lake Ontario, blending size, strength, and ancient mystery. Although other large game fish like Chinook salmon and lake trout offer thrilling sport fishing experiences, none embody the grandeur and resilience of the lake sturgeon. As conservation programs continue, the dream of encountering one of these freshwater leviathans in Lake Ontario grows more likely — and more exciting.