Ugly Fish Becomes Favorite of Michigan Anglers

One fish in Michigan waters, long dubbed the state’s ugliest, is surging in popularity as ice anglers increasingly target it. Why are anglers so hot on catching burbot?

What is a Burbot?

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In the picture above, the burbot is on the left and a snakehead is on the right. Two very different fish but look similar to one another. The burbot is a freshwater fish that is in the cod family. The snakehead is a highly invasive fish in North America that has the ability to breathe air and survive out of water for several days and can move across land.

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The burbot is said to be a cross between an eel and a catfish because of its long body, mottled skin, and single, prominent chin barbel. Burbot also resemble bowfin (dogfish), but don't have the same jaw bone. They are native to cold, deep northern lakes and rivers, and are nocturnal predators nicknamed "freshwater cod."

Burbot can be caught throughout Michigan, particularly in the Great Lakes, their bays, and deeper inland lakes during winter. The prime locations include Lake superior (Keweenaw/Munising Bays), northern Lake Michigan, Green Bay, and inland lakes like Burt and Mullet.

The best time to catch burbot is at night in 30 to 50 feet of water.

Why Michigan Ice Fishermen Love the Ugly Fish

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Ice fishermen on Lake Superior are going bonkers over catching burbot. A fish that is known at the "poor man's lobster," has aggressive feeding habits in winter, and more and more anglers are targeting this formerly overlooked species.

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The burbot is basically a freshwater cod-like fish known for their firm white meat and large size. They have become a prized fish for both food and sport and anglers can't seem to get enough of them because they taste similar to lobster when prepared in butter.