Sturgeon Conservation/Handling

none of you are starving for food!
LetTHEMroamFREEforever!

which reminds me of this lil'movie
 



the buffalo were around for lots of years too.....then they got hunted.

I like the way you think, Adam.

I'm still learning, but I do instinctively feel the fish don't belong to me to take...  That doesn't keep me from keeping one or two here and there...  it's better than what you can get at the store.

But sturgeon are special...  largest freshwater fish in north America!  I was reading yesterday that they were netted to near extinction in the Carquinez straights by 1917...  then they were banned completely til the mid 50's.

1917...  think about that.  It means we fished em out in like 30 years!

I have total respect for guys that release their fish, but I also like seeing us enjoy and share what we legally catch.

Sturgeon is a rare delicacy.  If you keep one, don't let it go to waste.  Learn to make the best of it.  Like Ariel said, carefully clean, fillet, and vacuum pack what you plan to keep in the freezer.  Learn to cook and smoke fish.  Learn to make caviar.  Enjoy and savor it with some ice cold vodka!

I fish because I like the rush and adventure of it.The rush of excitement the night before heading out to what may become an epic day of fishing or an epic day of life. With all the ups and downs. Don't tell me not to keep fish, ever. Its a personal choice. I am a conservationist. So I firmly believe not taking more that enough to satisfy my meager reqests of life. I like fresh caught fish and if the price for wild fish wasn't so high maybe I would buy more. But I refuse to buy some farm raised, genetically altered,dyed fish so my fishing may be deemed a more conscious level than others.If you want to get on your catch and realease podium, fine, thats your choice. Don't try to make me feel crappy for keeping fish that myself and my family eat.

You know I'm just Funnin'&BallBustin   That sure looks good Chuck
.......by the way?, CANyouKICKmeDOWNaCOUPLEmoreFILLETS?

none of you are starving for food!
LetTHEMroamFREEforever!

which reminds me of this lil'movie
 



the buffalo were around for lots of years too.....then they got hunted.

I remember that movie. We are old..... Hey Adam, the buff are still around and you can still hunt them. I have 6 bonus points. MMMMMM, buffalo chops  
Check it out
http://www.kutv.com/content/outdoors/story/Henry-Bison-To-Book-Cliffs/acveBZJmHEG78cS6SpUuyg.cspx

Thanks Kayote!  Now i can rinse my mouth of the bitter taste that movie left me with! 
IwasJUSTaCHILD ...and I have eaten BuffBurgers  Mmmgood!

You know I'm just Funnin'&BallBustin   That sure looks good Chuck
.......by the way?, CANyouKICKmeDOWNaCOUPLEmoreFILLETS?

Yo Adam.  I know you well enough to know you don't slam your fish-keepin' bros for keeping their catch.

Like Ravensblack, I love fresh fish too, so it just doesn't make sense for me to release the good wild stuff, just to go to the store later to buy frozen farm raised fish.  And if you like sturgeon, good luck trying to find it at your local grocer or fish market.

Adam, since you're still in my friends and family network (for now), your welcome to share what I have.

Adam, since you're still in my friends and family network (for now), your welcome to share what I have.

   LOVEyouTOO!(for now)

Speaking for myself, I would never dream of thinking any less of anyone for what they legally keep...  We all need to eat, and we all like sharing our bounty with friends.

But at the same time it's good to be reminded once in awhile that what we take for granted today could be gone tomorrow.

I'm very much looking forward to tasting sturgeon...  But the first one got a pardon.

I have total respect for guys that release their fish, but I also like seeing us enjoy and share what we legally catch.

Sturgeon is a rare delicacy.  If you keep one, don't let it go to waste.  Learn to make the best of it.  Like Ariel said, carefully clean, fillet, and vacuum pack what you plan to keep in the freezer.  Learn to cook and smoke fish.  Learn to make caviar.  Enjoy and savor it with some ice cold vodka!

Oh man that looks good. M'Lady and I were on the edge of our seat (well, the edge of the bathtub) when we applied the Big Cut, desperately hoping to see some Black Gold come spilling out. I mean gold in a culinary sense obviously, although your big fish probably had ~1000 dollars worth of caviar in it http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n14546525.

I often think about the catch and release issue. It seems to me some folks have this issue a bit backwards; is it better to catch and release numerous fish, stressing/tiring them out and inevitably killing a percentage of them, or is it better to catch one, keep it and not fish for any more. I guess it depends how well that species does with catch and release. We know sturgeon are likely to suffer internal injuries during the measuring process and, lets face it, the only reason you get a chance to measure them are because they're absolutely exhausted by the end of the fight. I have seen plenty of dead sturgeon washed up at shore fishing spots and I'm sure that many more tuckered out sturgies become furbag food after being released by well-intentioned anglers.

I guess my point is; if the health of sturgeon is your biggest concern, fishing for something else is a lot better than catch and release. The batray gave me a better fight anyway!!

We know sturgeon are likely to suffer internal injuries during the measuring process and, lets face it, the only reason you get a chance to measure them are because they're absolutely exhausted by the end of the fight

Others undoubtedly know more than I, but I believe the consensus is you likely won't do damage if you're careful.  And Sean can attest that when I released mine it was VERY spunky.

But you do have a point, especially when it comes to less robust fish.

And if you like sturgeon, good luck trying to find it at your local grocer or fish market.

And if you do find it, it had better be farm-raised. If not, call 888-DFG-CALTIP immediately!