At first glance, a burbot looks like some sort of large, slimy eel. But, there’s much more to this native fish than meets the eye. Burbot, commonly known as eelpout, can be found throughout the Northern hemisphere, primarily in Canada, Alaska, and along the Northern border of the lower 48. There is also a native species that lives in Europe and Asia.
The average size of a burbot can range anywhere between 1.5 to 5 pounds, with the heavier fish tipping the scales around 10 pounds (the current world record weighs just over 25 pounds). They are typically between 15 to 30 inches long, with any fish over 30 being considered a trophy. In recent years, burbot have become increasingly popular as table fare and that’s led to more ice fishermen targeting them during the spawn.
To gain a better understanding of the species, and why it’s become popular, I talked with three burbot experts. Tyler Brick, Matt Breuer, and Jason Rylander are all Minnesota residents who live for ice fishing season. Cumulatively, they’ve fished for burbot for over 50 years, and they love these native bottom dwellers.
Eating Burbot, the Poor Man’s Lobster
For ice fishermen who are looking to bring home a meal, burbot are a top tier choice during February and March.
Burbot are a member of the cod family and they have a firm fillet. The flavor is that of a generic white fish, which means they typically taste less fishy and more like the seasonings you use. You can treat them like other panfish and chunk and fry them, but many anglers prefer to treat them like lobster, hence the nickname.
Jason Rylander has been fishing for burbot for 20 years, before it was trendy, and his favorite preparation method is to boil the fillets in a soft drink like 7Up or Mountain Dew. Then simply dip them in garlic butter and broil them in the oven. The sugar from the soft drink sweetens the meat, and the garlic butter is a perfect pairing for that lobster-like taste. You can follow this recipe, and simply substitute burbot fillets for the cod.
Other common presentations are chunked fillets wrapped in bacon and then grilled or smoked, or a Poor Man’s Lobster mac and cheese.
From Trash to Treasure
“There was nobody else [targeting burbot] 20-years ago.” Rylander says, “It was way easier to go out and catch them back then. But since then, the stigma around burbot has changed.”
For many years, the town of Walker, Minnesota had hosted the Eelpout Festival, which is a weekend full of burbot fishing, live music, and hardwater antics that brought out hundreds of people. While the event was a fun time for the locals, it was a lot less productive for the burbot population. Up until March 1st of 2025, when Minnesota imposed a 4-fish limit, there was no restriction on the number of burbot anglers could pull through the ice and keep or kill. This made for some big piles of dead burbot, not just at the festival, but throughout their range.
“The old eelpout festival in Walker was a kill fest,” said Rylander. “They used to stack em’ and kill em’ by the hundreds. The old timers said [burbot] were chewing up the biomass and eating all of the walleye fry, which put an easy target on their heads here in the Midwest.”
But the reality is much different. These native fish are a part of a healthy ecosystem. Their main forage isn’t even fish fry, it’s bugs, according to Matt Breuer, who has been guiding in Minnesota for 25 years with Northcountry Guide Service, where he specializes in ice fishing and fish hut rentals.
“I grew up near the Canadian border by Lake of the Woods, one of the best walleye and burbot fisheries on the planet. I remember driving past ice shanties and seeing piles of burbot outside of ice shacks because people thought they were trash. But when I caught my first one, I realized the fight was amazing and I became addicted to chasing them.”
Around 7 years ago, Breuer jumped into the conservation side of the burbot world when he started to notice a decline in the burbot populations. Breuer played a big role in the Minnesota DNR’s decision to put a limit on burbot, and was ecstatic with the results. “The proposal was initially a 10 fish limit per day, which would have been better than nothing, but I can tell you, I’m very happy with the 4 fish limit decision.”
However, the conservation efforts for this species shouldn’t stop at a 4 fish limit. As more and more anglers have figured out that burbot not only put up a heck of a fight on an ice rod, but also taste great, the fishing pressure on the species has skyrocketed.
Catching Burbot
Burbot can be found in deep, cold lakes and river systems, and are primarily nocturnal feeders. For most of the year, they don’t leave those deep, cold water basins. But, in the early spring during their mating season, they become more active in shallower waters for a short period of time.
Around mid-February through late-March, burbot spawning balls can be found on shelves and breaks near deep water, typically around structure. These burbot balls can consist of anywhere from 5 to 20-plus fish, mainly males, surrounding a female trying to breed and fertilize her eggs. This is when they are most susceptible to fishing pressure as they are shallower and more active than any other time of year.
One reason why Minnesota has a growing number of burbot fishermen is because you can target them right around the time the big game fishing seasons for walleye, pike, and bass close.
That slimy, writhing ball of fish is a sight to behold for ice anglers looking for a fun fight. As for the catching part of the equation, all three of the Minnesota natives agreed on the method and target area. In most cases, burbot flock to hard bottom areas around sand or pea gravel. They tend to avoid the muddy or silted bottoms since those hold less forage than the hard bottoms. Once you’ve located a hard bottom near deep water, start drilling holes.
Forward-facing sonar has made it much easier to locate the burbot balls during the spawn, so once you’ve found one in shallow enough water to target ethically, find a big jig, put 2 to 5 minnows on the hook, and start bouncing it off the bottom. Burbot have poor eyesight, so something bright and loud is better for getting their interest.
Burbot have a similar mouth structure to a largemouth bass, meaning they won’t snap your line very often. But, it’s important to remember that these can be pretty heavy fish, so you should opt for heavy line, heavy rods, and be prepared for a long fight compared to other freshwater ice species. Burbot are also notorious for taking big, deep runs after you initially get them near the hole.
How to Safely Catch and Release Burbot
Since burbot are typically found in deeper water, the number one concern for catch and release anglers is barotrauma. In essence, by reeling in the fish too quickly from deep water, their internal air bladder expands and ruptures, inevitably killing the fish, even if you see it swim away on the release.
To prevent that from happening, anglers simply need to fish in shallower water. That’s easier said than done, since most of the fish you’ll see with your Vexilar or forward-facing sonar will be in 40 to 50 feet of water. But if your goal is a safe release, Breuer says you must go shallower. Even when you’re in the 20 to 30 foot range, try to reel fish in slowly. Turn down the drag a bit, play the fish and give it more time to acclimate to the pressure change during the rise to the surface. This will give them a better chance for a safe and ethical release.
Now, for anglers looking to do a mix of catch and release fishing while also filling their 4 fish limit, veteran burbot angler Tyler Brick has some helpful tips and tricks to make sure you’re keeping the right fish for the dinner table and for a sustainable population.
“Sure, most anglers know to release the big females since they’re the ones holding all of the eggs,” says Brick. “Those big females can hold and lay up to 500,000 eggs, which is crazy, but that many eggs also requires more than one male to protect the nest.”
Since the nests need protection from up to 4 or 5 male burbot, anglers also need to throw back the males too. Similar to bluegill, smallmouth, or largemouth, the females and males are both important. So, if you’re looking to take home your fair share of burbot for the table, focus on keeping fish under the 4-pound mark. Most of those fish will be around 24 to 25 inches long and have some lovely fillets to prepare.
“Anything over that, you’re not really gaining any extra meat, you’re just removing a bigger fish out of the population,” Brick says.
Read Next: Pro Tips for Catching Burbot Through the Ice
Final Thoughts on the Burbot Boom
While I think everyone agrees that the burbot’s rise from trash fish to gamefish is a good thing, their popularity also brings a new set of challenges that anglers must contend with. Safely targeting and releasing burbot is a good, ethical practice for anglers who want to continue catching them in the future. Do your part, help conserve this amazing species, and if you do take a few home with you, put every bit of the fantastic table fare to good use.
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