Tackle for Fishing Sturgeon

December 5, 2013

Question: When sturgeon fishing, is it true we cannot use sinkers on leaders or steel leaders? I don’t find these laws stated in the regulations booklet, so are they true? (Mon S., Stockton)

Answer: When fishing for sturgeon, only one single barbless hook may be used on a line (see California Code of Regulations Title 14, sections 5.80 and 27.90.) The use of sinkers or steel leaders while fishing for sturgeon is not prohibited in most waters, but the use of any hook that is attached closer than 18 inches to any weight exceeding one half ounce is prohibited (CCR Title 14, section 2.10(b)(2)). (Exception: Sacramento River from Keswick Dam to the Highway 162 Bridge, no wire leaders may be used and no sturgeon may be taken.)

No need for sinkers on your leader. I use 20-22" Dacron 80# leaders in cache slough. The current hauls through cache slough. Braid line you can get away with a 12oz torpedo weight while mono you will need at least a 1lbs ball.

I use the same leaders fishing the shallows around the fleet and big cut.