Sherman Island,,,,Yes Johnny the Sturgeon are biting

So,,,,I wish I could write one of those long blow by blow reports, but I'm just not all that good at it, but I'll give it a try.

Got there at 8 launched by 830 into allot more wind than I expected but the guy at the bait shop said for the last few days it had been dying down after a morning blow. Turned out he was right, but he had no ghost so I went with straight grass, Yester Joined me a little later, his guy had ghost, but I stuck with my grass.  Good to meet you Yester!!

Oh did I mention how tired my arms are? 

Went straight out into the river, about to the edge of the channel in 30 ft of water, threw out some shrimp and in a few minutes had a 14 inch striper, and then in an hour or so there was a pretty golden catfish on deck, then in another half hour or so it looked like I had another kitty fish messing with my bait, but you just never know do you?

So I "set the hook" and the thing made a beeline for the surface and cleared the water about 25 yds out in front of me.

Well it wasn't a catfish after all, but about an hour later I saw that it did have wiskers..........

Strong fish, just didn't want to give in. I had planned on C&R today no matter what so I left the snare at home, then also realized I left the gloves at home too.   So I played it long and slow (really no choice with the gear I was using) made sure it was really tuckered out by the time I slid it alongside.  Pulled him in close for a pic and a release and that's all there was to it.

Last year in this same spot I brought one home that was  56" this one looked like it's twin....

On the downside of all the boats around me this is the only keeper anything I saw. 

Wow...congrat on your C&R Johnny the Sturgeon!  How're your arms now?    Thanks for the report and pictures Dale.

DUDE!!!!!!!!

WTG!!!!!!!!!!!

What cool looking fish those things are!!

Congrats again on your CPRed beast, and thanks for sharing!

Sincerely,

Jim

nice job dale, so that's where i'm going on saturday!

Yes!  It was a great day to fish.  Didn't catch anything but the cool view of Dale's bendo.  Interesting thing I did catch was that Sherman Island's restrooms have shelves of books inside (way cool!) and that parking was only $5 (Car).  Thanks Dale!

Deja-Vu-Dale. One hour fight? Awesome.  jim

Thanks for the report Dale. I was waiting to hear how you did since I live close by and have been itching to catch a sturgeon from the yak this winter. I may have to finish helping my dad with his shed tomorrow so I can give this a try on saturday. Just curious, why did you release? Sturgeon is one of the best eating fish in my opinion.

Thanks again and take care,
Ray

Good to be back on the water, no? 

Good deal Dale


Ben

**screams**

gooooood shit! way to kick off the sturg season with a bang!

  Nice going, great report and picture, way to go! 

WTG Dale!  Congrats on the nice sturg!

Totally awesome, Dale.  Releasing one of the first keeper sturgeon of the season is a bold move.  Bravo x 10.   

Nice release Dale. The color of the water looks great. What was the tide doing when you hooked up? Some of the charters have been hooking up pretty consistent just after the top. Again , congrats on the fish. You called that one big time.

most of those charters are fishing deep 70' plus , not sure how that would work on the yak BUT i thought about anchoring on the ledge by buoy 33 then casting into the deep

sturgeon are stacked over there by PG&e(pittsburg) all the way towards collinsville every fall , kinda frusterating though cuz ull mark herds of fish on the FF,drop your bait right on um and still have to do the waiting but hey thats sturgeon fishing!reading this report gots the fever burnin in me! gotta get out there and hook some donkeys!

hey dale do u use a bucket or anything to keep ur boat str8? looks like u had some breeze!