You most likely killed that sturgeon

[PA BEN]

To the guy who fought the sturgeon close to an hour yesterday, 6/29/19 and after he took you into the bay up river of the Kettle River. Good job. But you don't yard a wore out fish in your boat take pictures and then pitch it over the side. You probably killed it.

[X-Force]

How is venting on here going to help? Did you try and make contact with the fishermen?

[PA BEN]

How is venting on here going to help? Did you try and make contact with the fishermen?

Because I want to and no I didn't make contact.

[dilleytech]

He broke a law bringing the fish into the boat. If you wanted to do something you should have reported it. But I agree a lot of guys killing big sturgeon this time of year. A lot of nets killing sturgeon also.

[Ghost Hunter]

I have one picture of a big sturgeon.  Me leaning over the boat with my head beside the surgeons head.  Had no need or desire to take it further than that.

[huntnnw]

He broke a law bringing the fish into the boat. If you wanted to do something you should have reported it. But I agree a lot of guys killing big sturgeon this time of year. A lot of nets killing sturgeon also.

thats incorrect . I talked to a warden last year on roosevelt about that and he said that was false and you can absolutely can boat a fish to measure it.

[dilleytech]

He broke a law bringing the fish into the boat. If you wanted to do something you should have reported it. But I agree a lot of guys killing big sturgeon this time of year. A lot of nets killing sturgeon also.

thats incorrect . I talked to a warden last year on roosevelt about that and he said that was false and you can absolutely can boat a fish to measure it.

That’s true during a keeper season where the fish needs to be measured for keeping. In all other cases it’s illegal to bring the fish out of water. Its also illegal to tow a fish to the bank and lift it out of water.

[huntnnw]

This is in reference to where the OP was fishing

[skagitsteel]

Back in the days when you could keep them, I had one sitting high and dry in my boat for over an hour, it would have easily swam away still.  I’m not advocating bad fish handling skills, however sturgeon are incredibly tough and good chance that fish still made it just fine. About 20x as tough as a salmon or steelhead when it comes to handling them in my opinion.

[huntnfmly]

Back in the days when you could keep them, I had one sitting high and dry in my boat for over an hour, it would have easily swam away still.  I’m not advocating bad fish handling skills, however sturgeon are incredibly tough and good chance that fish still made it just fine. About 20x as tough as a salmon or steelhead when it comes to handling them in my opinion.

If you were going to keep that why would you let it sit there alive for 1hr instead of killing it right away?
Just curious

[2MANY]

Many used to fish for bigger ones and let the smaller go.
They are a tough dinosaur.

[dilleytech]

Back in the days when you could keep them, I had one sitting high and dry in my boat for over an hour, it would have easily swam away still.  I’m not advocating bad fish handling skills, however sturgeon are incredibly tough and good chance that fish still made it just fine. About 20x as tough as a salmon or steelhead when it comes to handling them in my opinion.

They are pretty tuff but keep in mind just because a fish swims away doesn’t mean they live. I recall reading that sturgeons organs will be crushed when kept out of water.

[Remnar]

Many used to fish for bigger ones and let the smaller go.
They are a tough dinosaur.

 Yep many people used to high grade and many fish died because of it . Rope through the gills is another method that I used to hate to see .


 Sturgeon are a lot tougher than salmon & steelhead and that was everybodies excuse for handling them roughly . Tough or not you tear a gill rake or let them roll around on the deck forever chances are fish is gonna die .