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Author Topic: Bleeding a sturgeon?  (Read 2054 times)

Offline buglebuster

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Bleeding a sturgeon?
« on: February 21, 2026, 08:52:18 AM »
As the title says? How do you bleed a sturgeon to ensure the best quality meat? Can’t find much info online and zero videos. I figured the standard cut the gills would work but read something online that says they die too fast that way before they bleed out completely. I’ve sturgeon fished many times and caught a bunch just always catch and release. No idea how to take care of a keeper  :chuckle:

Offline HntnFsh

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Re: Bleeding a sturgeon?
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2026, 08:56:00 AM »
Done it many ways and they all work. Ive also cut by the heart. The best maybe was just in front of the vent and hang them head down or in the water.

Offline HntnFsh

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Re: Bleeding a sturgeon?
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2026, 09:00:22 AM »
If I cut above the vent I always run a rope through the gills and let them swim. Sometimes I've cut them again later and got more blood out.

Offline buglebuster

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Re: Bleeding a sturgeon?
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2026, 08:31:37 PM »
When you cut in front of the vent, how far in are you cutting?

Offline Ridgeratt

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Re: Bleeding a sturgeon?
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2026, 08:34:23 PM »
Just cut from the vent to the tail.

Offline Antlershed

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Re: Bleeding a sturgeon?
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2026, 05:27:03 PM »
I’ve always cut the gills and hung ‘em in the water on a rope so the current pushes water thru the gills. They’ve always bled out plenty this way.

Offline buglebuster

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Re: Bleeding a sturgeon?
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2026, 07:16:25 PM »
Thanks for the input guys. We suck at sturgeon fishing I guess so this was knowledge I didn’t need to know yesterday 🤣🤣

We did have around 5 bites but didn’t hook up. Looked really slow for everyone. Out of all the boats we only saw 4 caught but did see posts from guides on Facebook that seemed to do pretty well.

Offline Limhangerslayer

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Re: Bleeding a sturgeon?
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2026, 08:55:17 PM »
Thanks for the input guys. We suck at sturgeon fishing I guess so this was knowledge I didn’t need to know yesterday 🤣🤣

We did have around 5 bites but didn’t hook up. Looked really slow for everyone. Out of all the boats we only saw 4 caught but did see posts from guides on Facebook that seemed to do pretty well.
I’ve bled a pile of sturgeon.  They do not die too fast to bleed out whatsoever.  Honestly cold water this time of year slows their bleeding.  One of the fish we had last Monday still was moving with gills cut and a bonk when we got home (which didn’t work very good for sturgeon)

Offline buglebuster

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Re: Bleeding a sturgeon?
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2026, 09:18:36 PM »
Thanks for the input guys. We suck at sturgeon fishing I guess so this was knowledge I didn’t need to know yesterday 🤣🤣

We did have around 5 bites but didn’t hook up. Looked really slow for everyone. Out of all the boats we only saw 4 caught but did see posts from guides on Facebook that seemed to do pretty well.
I’ve bled a pile of sturgeon.  They do not die too fast to bleed out whatsoever.  Honestly cold water this time of year slows their bleeding.  One of the fish we had last Monday still was moving with gills cut and a bonk when we got home (which didn’t work very good for sturgeon)

Good to know! I wish I could have sleeps work and made it out that Monday to the bonneville pool

 


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