APOSTLE ISLANDS, LAKE SUPERIOR - A lake trout that hatched at least 46 years ago was caught and released in western Lake Superior this month by Wisconsin DNR fisheries crews doing survey work near the Gull Island Shoal fish refuge.

And while the trout's age may be amazing - it was a hatched when Richard Nixon was president and around the time John Lennon wrote his iconic "Imagine" - fisheries experts say its longevity is a testament to the safe spaces created for Superior's fish.

"We often think of a fish's lifespan being relatively short, maybe 10 years," Terry Margenau, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fisheries supervisor, said in a news release. "But lake trout are slow-growing and have a longevity that will rival that of the ancient sturgeon.

"This fish is a prime example of that longevity and the important role fish refuges play in sustaining populations of these native fish."

This particular lake trout has been caught eight times by the DNR in the Gull Island Refuge.

The first time was in 1981, when it was tagged and estimated to be 10 to 12 years old. It measured 27.3 inches then.

When it was most recently caught during the DNR spawning assessment on Nov. 2, it measured 35.5 inches, the DNR said.

Pictures from that catch were captured by David Stokes of Stokes Media House Inc.

The Gull Island Shoal area is one of two refuges in Lake Superior's Wisconsin waters where fishing is not allowed. The Gull Island refuge was created in 1976, while the Devils Island Refuge was established in 1981.

The islands are among the 22 that are part of Superior's Apostle Islands group.

"Creating these protected areas was the primary driver of the recovery of lake trout following their depletion from sea lamprey invasion and overharvest" Brad Ray, senior fisheries biologist for DNR in Bayfield, Wis., said in a press release.

If you catch a tagged fish in western Lake Superior and you're interested in its backstory, the DNR can tell you.

All lake trout handled by the DNR get a colored tag with a number on it. Anglers who catch and release those fish can keep track of the tag number and call the Bayfield DNR office (715-779-4021) to get the capture history.