Just brainstorming...

Hi guys,

You are going to need a 12 weight minimum, maybe even 14 weight for sturgeon. I've targeted shallow 3ft leopard sharks in San Pablo Bay with 10 weight and shooting line with LC13 that wore me out. I can't imagine what a sturgeon would do. You are going to need to look for shallow water for this type of fishing, 15 feet or less with as little water movement as possible. I would use shooting line with either LC13 or T14 heads to get down to the bottom, with 100 yards of backing and another 300 yards of 50lb braid or GSP on top of that. Think tuna-class fly reels. If you are not a purist, go ahead and rig up a ghost shrimp with magic thread on a 6 foot leader. I would not bother flycasting this. Just let out line as you paddle.

Regarding mackerel (as well as jacksmelt), I've had hours of fun with a 5wt setup with white wooly buggers and small clousers. You can even flycast a sabiki rig with a weighted clouser replacing the sinker. Again, shooting lines and LC13/T14 to get down deep.

Let us know how it goes!

I like this information.  I'll do my homework.  I'm not a purist.  Thank you.

I have this Canadian style mooching setup that would be perfect for this, long whippy rod with a single speed reel.  The rod actually has a bit of backbone to it.

Haha, this is exactly what I thought of when I first saw this post - a salmon mooching setup, PNW style.

I'm not sure it makes any sense seeking sturgeon with a fly-rod. If you are scenting the fly or using bait, then you are not fly-fishing. Better to seek out halibut and stripers with a fly rod. That's challenging enough.
I love the idea of targeting mackerel with fly a fly rod.
I've done very little fly-fishing the last couple of years, but I'll be dragging a tui chub pattern on my 8wt next time I'm at Pyramid. Last year I got a lively 24"er on the fly. 

My buddy got one on the fly fishing for stripers. It was pure luck, almost impossible to target with a fly.

My mind is twirling with this setup.  I'm going with a single speed fly reel with a 40-50lb. top shot on an older fiberglass spinning surf rod.  9ft?  Traditional sturgeon rig.  I'm waiting for a window to pump some mud shrimp.  Drop my 5-6oz weight on a slider with sturgeon leader material and strip out line to "cast" while I drift away then anchor up and wait for many hours until...hmmm...what's that?   Was that a boink boink?  Hope the camera is rolling.  This will be on the stealth if all goes according to plan...