With construction work slated to begin beneath the Hoan Bridge later this year, this spring marks the final smelting season for yet-to-be-determined but prolonged period in the publicly accessible area under the bridge.
Public access to the area under the Hoan will be restricted starting in May. Signs will be posted in the area to inform and remind the public about the restricted access.
“Port Milwaukee remains committed to maintaining a high degree of safety, vigilance and compliance with security requirements for its commercial operations, while also providing residents with as much public access to the waterfront as possible under local, state and federal law,” Carter said. “We hope that members of the public can safely enjoy this year’s smelt run.”
The future restricted access is due to the relocation of a large-combined sewer overflow along South Lincoln Memorial Drive and the construction of a new dredged material management facility associated with the Milwaukee estuary, which has been designated as an “area of concern.”
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The public is encouraged to identify other locations to take advantage of future smelt runs.
“Please know that the safety of residents, visitors and waterfront enthusiasts is the most important factor in this decision,” Port Milwaukee Director Jackie Carter said. “As this work moves forward, Port staff will monitor the construction progress and reevaluate public access on a rolling basis.”
Once construction of the dredged material management facility is completed, dredging and filling operations associated with the cleanup will begin and are expected to take several years to complete.
A group of long-standing partners, including Port Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, formed the Waterway Restoration Partnership to clean up the Milwaukee Estuary area of concern. More information about the project and a full list of partners can be found on their website.
Alternate publicly accessible fishing sites are available at Port Milwaukee, including near the Lake Express ferry terminal and the Russell Avenue fishing pier near the U.S. Coast Guard station.
Individuals planning to fish on or near Jones Island are reminded about existing public access guidance, as well as Port Milwaukee’s public access map, available online.
“I appreciate the flexibility demonstrated by Port staff and the Board of Harbor Commissioners in accommodating the 2023 smelt run, while keeping residents and families safe during the annual fishing season,” Milwaukee Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic said. “Smelting is a South Side fishing tradition that has long been part of the fabric of Bay View and other neighborhoods.”
The Lake Michigan smelt run is typically between late March and the end of April, when the oily, silvery fish that spend most of the year in deep water migrate to areas near the shore to spawn.
Smelt in Lake Michigan have declined dramatically since their peak in the mid-1980s when fishermen would fill multiple 5-gallon buckets. Researchers have pointed to the arrival in the Great Lakes of invasive species like zebra mussels, which have disrupted the food chain. Now, a half-full pail is often considered a very good catch.
Most smelting in the Milwaukee area is currently done on Jones Island as well as the McKinley Marina pier farther north along the shoreline. The best time for smelting is usually after dark, making it common to see droves of smelt dippers gathering under the Hoan at nightfall with their lights and frame dip nets.
Port Milwaukee announced last month that it was temporarily extending public access hours for smelting on Jones Island under the Hoan throughout the night and into the early morning. Those extended hours end Saturday.
Port Milwaukee security teams have been monitoring the area under the Hoan to ensure all safety and security measures are being observed. Members of the public are also reminded that all tents, waste and other fishing-related equipment must be removed from under the bridge on a nightly basis.
