Sturgeon,who when where?

[surfcast]

I foul hooked one off Sandy Hook NJ, only one I ever caught. Not a large one, with a cast master.   

[MainelySmallies]

Landed a big sturgeon last night in Southern Maine. They’ve been driving me crazy all week. Can’t fish bucktails because they either attack them or snag themselves on them. Had half a dozen of the d*** things on the line last week before they either bent out my hook or popped off. I did manage to land and carefully released one of them last week that had been snagged and looked to be around 3 feet or so. Last night I landed this one just past midnight on a Gravity Tackle eel. It was much bigger than the first one. Oddest thing too: it hit like a bass (a classic tap tap) but then dove deep and started peeling out a football field of drag. Was hoping the thing would pop off but no such luck. Finally managed to get him in after 10 minutes wearing out my shoulder. Took an approximate length measurement using my rod and then measured the spot at home: this one was at least five feet. Cool to see up close but a little spooky to see that big tail in the dark surf. Strangest thing too: it was hooked right in the corner of the mouth.

 

That spot hasn’t been productive over the last week anyway and I’m sick of dealing with the sturgeon so that will be my last trip there this season. But it was cool to see one of those prehistoric things.

Edited June 22, 2022 by MainelySmallies

[Maine Guide]

Been a few years but I was in the mouth of the Saco mid day September and I must have seen thirty jump out of the water in an hour. They were everywhere. 

[XBMX]

It's said that when Sturgeon jump they are ridding themselves of parasites. Seem favorite spots are SandBar edges near deeper water. I had the pleasure only once, bright sunny August afternoon, anchored the boat and just sat watching the show. Went on for better than a hour untill the Tide dropped off. All sized from Baby's up to six footers one little guy got me wet landing within arms length of my CC. Of course no camera just great memory.

[Skunkoff]

Sure do get the adrenaline pumping when they breach near the kayak. 

[Kidfo]

Interesting catch @MainelySmallies 

There is a Sturgeon Watch sign posted on a beach by me on Eastern LI - but no sightings as of yet.  

[BrianZ]

On 3/15/2021 at 8:33 AM, CWitek said:

 

 

I kinow that the DEC has to spend quite a bit of money and effort to obtain federal permits that, because of the ESA listing, are required to let those fisheries continue with an incidental take of sturgeon.

why does the dec pay this?  shouldn't those with the license pay for the federal permit??

[CWitek]

2 mins ago, BrianZ said:

why does the dec pay this?  shouldn't those with the license pay for the federal permit??

It always tends to be done at the state level.  I know that North Carolina is paying quite a bit for the same sort of permit for sea turtles in coastal gill nets (and, I assume, sturgeon as well).  I haven't looked at the specific EDA provisions or related regulations, but it's possible tht the law is set up this way.  But I'd guess that the state does it in order to obtain a blanket permit, rather than require each fisherman to file an individual application, and so duplicate the work hundreds of times over.  The Fish & Wildlife Service probably prefers it that way.

[3Beard]

The Hudson river has a decent population of Atlantics.. hence the common sightings in Raritan bay.. I've caught a few over the years while chunking herring during the spring Striper run..but never a big one.. Whenever it happens I make sure to carefully un-hook them while they're still in the water.. the DEC has no sense of humor when it comes to Sturgeon..  very cool fish.. here's one from a couple weeks ago: 

[cheech]

Had numerous sturgeon leaping completely out of the Hudson River near my kayak the other morning. Never hooked one but they wash up dead occasionally.

  A 14’ specimen was pinged in the river a few years ago.

[ChuckDgaf]

1 or 2 would show up ( usually quickly released ) on the party boats out of Sheepshead Bay  when drifting Ambrose from ( inside and under ) the VZ bridge out to the bight during a strong Fluke season. The rare one might still be there even if the Fluke are not.... they are in the Hudson.

Edited June 28, 2022 by ChuckDgaf

[ArcticRanger]

I've seen them a bunch of times in and around the Merrimack river over the years when I was fishing up there. Never caught one.