OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is urging anglers to report any sightings or catches of round gobies in the Winnebago System following the recent capture of one of the invasive fish in Lake Winnebago.
Round gobies are aggressive, fast-reproducing invasive fish that can survive in poor water conditions and outcompete native species. While they have been present in the Great Lakes and their tributaries since the early 1990s, they are not known to be established in the Winnebago System.
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The DNR intensified monitoring after an angler reported catching a round goby near the Bowen Street Fishing Pier in Oshkosh on June 2, 2025. The fish was verified by DNR fisheries and aquatic invasive species staff, prompting a rapid response.
From June 2 through June 6, DNR teams conducted a concentrated monitoring effort using shore and boat angling, as well as minnow traps. These efforts targeted the location of the original catch and channels upstream of the Neenah and Menasha dams. No additional gobies were found, and no further angler reports have been received, suggesting that the species is not currently established in the Winnebago System.
The Menasha Dam, Neenah Dam, and closed Menasha Lock continue to serve as key barriers in preventing the upstream spread of round gobies from known populations in Little Lake Butte des Morts and the Lower Fox River.
Anglers that capture a suspected round goby in Winnebago System waters should keep the fish, freeze it or put it on ice in a plastic bag, and report it to the DNR. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
The round goby was first found in Little Lake Butte des Morts in 2015, prompting the voluntary closure of the Menasha Lock by the Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA).
The DNR conducts annual surveys and ongoing projects on Lake Winnebago to monitor for aquatic invasive species, including the round goby.
Anglers who suspect they have caught a round goby in the Winnebago System are asked to keep the fish, freeze or place it on ice in a plastic bag, and report it using the DNR’s online Goby Reporting Tool, which includes a visual guide for identification.
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Gobies caught downstream of the Neenah or Menasha dams, in Little Lake Butte des Morts, Green Bay, or Lake Michigan do not need to be reported, as these areas already have established goby populations.
The DNR encourages continued vigilance to protect native fish populations and prevent the spread of invasive species.
