Sturgeon fishing

I can't help what others do

I can't help what others do

Yes, yes you can.

Being you're right in Rohnert Park, the Petaluma river is always good place to catch sturgeon. Me and some buddy's caught this one right next to the railroad tracks.

The next time you catch an oversized sturgeon please don't lift it by its gill plates.

... or just leave it in the water as the regs require. Nice fish though.

Noob question but are they safe to grab by the tail?

Noob question but are they safe to grab by the tail?

Absolutely, but just make sure you're wearing gloves for your safety. Just keep them horizontal and in the water and you (and the fish) will be in good shape.

A good resource ... http://mywildalberta.com/fishing/SafetyProcedures/FishHandling/SturgeonHandlingPractices.aspx

I told him to cut the line. He's a grown man that refused. If it was me picture would've been taken with fish in water right before the line was cut.
But hey not my fish and the grown man didn't listen to me request.

But you chose to post the picture.

Being you're right in Rohnert Park, the Petaluma river is always good place to catch sturgeon. Me and some buddy's caught this one right next to the railroad tracks.

The next time you catch an oversized sturgeon please don't lift it by its gill plates.

... or just leave it in the water as the regs require. Nice fish though.

Since I know nothing of sturgeon fishing or the regs, I'm assuming by this statement that the fish is not allowed (by regs) to be removed from the water of over a certain slot size?

Yep to show the OP that there are nice fish in the Petaluma river.

Being you're right in Rohnert Park, the Petaluma river is always good place to catch sturgeon. Me and some buddy's caught this one right next to the railroad tracks.

The next time you catch an oversized sturgeon please don't lift it by its gill plates.

... or just leave it in the water as the regs require. Nice fish though.

Since I know nothing of sturgeon fishing or the regs, I'm assuming by this statement that the fish is not allowed (by regs) to be removed from the water of over a certain slot size?

Exactly. The regs do offer an 8 inch leeway for fish at are oversized but still close to the upper slot limit.

"Any white sturgeon greater than 68 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and shall be released immediately” (CCR Title 14, sections 5.80 and 27.90).

Good to know ...  Never fished 'em before & don't have any plans to but it looks fun never the less.  Closest I've come to a fish of this type (dino) would be Tarpon back in Florida.

Last week at Ocean Cove, a group of us were diving and one guy pops up and asks, "what's the limit on sturgeon?"  He had seen a big one.  Nobody had any idea.  I since looked at the regs and saw that it would not have been legal to shoot it (he did not), because no tag, right?  Would this have been a sturgeon in that location?  I take it they are fresh and salt species?

Last week at Ocean Cove, a group of us were diving and one guy pops up and asks, "what's the limit on sturgeon?"  He had seen a big one.  Nobody had any idea.  I since looked at the regs and saw that it would not have been legal to shoot it (he did not), because no tag, right?  Would this have been a sturgeon in that location?  I take it they are fresh and salt species?

That's a pretty cool ocean sighting. Do you know if it was a Green or White Sturgeon ?

Even with a tag, White Sturgeon can only be taken with hook and line so its a good thing he didn't take that shot. Plus, sturgeon have a slot limit so "big ones" are often outside that limit.

Yes, they're an anadramous species (like salmon, striped bass, pacific lamprey,  etc.) that migrate between salt and fresh water.

Thanks for posting this info, I was not aware of it.
I have not tried to fish for dinos in about 20 yrs. but it is good to know.

Last week at Ocean Cove, a group of us were diving and one guy pops up and asks, "what's the limit on sturgeon?"  He had seen a big one.  Nobody had any idea.  I since looked at the regs and saw that it would not have been legal to shoot it (he did not), because no tag, right?  Would this have been a sturgeon in that location?  I take it they are fresh and salt species?

That's a pretty cool ocean sighting. Do you know if it was a Green or White Sturgeon ?

Even with a tag, White Sturgeon can only be taken with hook and line so its a good thing he didn't take that shot. Plus, sturgeon have a slot limit so "big ones" are often outside that limit.

Yes, they're an anadramous species (like salmon, striped bass, pacific lamprey,  etc.) that migrate between salt and fresh water.

No, I don't know the species.  I was busy trying to find a big ling (which I did then lost off the spear), and I didn't know if the guy was just misidentifying an angel shark or something.  When I see him, I will ask.