Post by: bearpaw on June 30, 2016, 07:26:11 PM
I went catch and release fishing with a couple friends for oversize white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River. The big ones were really hungry, we hooked 10 fish in a little over 6 hours, 2 fish broke the 100 pound test line and got away, but we landed 8 fish that ranged from 7' to 9'8". That's not a misprint the biggest fish was 116 inches long! The quickest fight was about 20 minutes for the 7' fish and the longest fight was 1 hour 26 minutes. According to a white sturgeon website a 7 foot fish should weigh about 178 pounds and a 9'8" fish should weigh about 489 pounds. The fish probably averaged about 8 feet and 275 pounds, so we probably caught and released about 2000 pounds of fish in one afternoon.
We got in the water with three of the biggest fish for photos, the two biggest fish probably weighed nearly twice as much as we weigh, fortunately they are not aggressive, needless to say the whole experience was just incredible. (FYI - When you roll them upside down they are very docile and easy to unhook, you roll them right side up and they swim back down unharmed.)
Post by: Bango skank on June 30, 2016, 07:29:05 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 30, 2016, 07:30:48 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 30, 2016, 07:33:51 PM
Post by: hunting4sanity on June 30, 2016, 07:38:34 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on June 30, 2016, 07:38:44 PM
Post by: HUNTaHOLIC5 on June 30, 2016, 07:43:55 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 30, 2016, 07:46:13 PM
Wow, dont know that id want to get in the water with those things! How far down the river? Im on a boat down at portland right now and i see a lot of people fishing, but dont see anybody catching anything
That whole stretch along the Oregon border is where they are at. My friend has it dialed in, I have fished them before and had caught an 8-10 when I was 12 years old, but I beat my old record and saw more fish caught in one afternoon than ever before. There are lots of guides down there that really know how to catch them. We've got a couple fishing guides on the forum that fish for sturgeon.
Those are same amazing fish and truly a BIG fish story. It's been a long time since I've fished for them, but it's a sight to behold when one of those guys jumps. Congratulations!
Two of our big ones come out of the water, that's when one of them that got away broke the line, he come out and when he shook or fell the drag was just a little too tight!
Unfortunately in the excitement of unhooking one fish I lost my phone in the river, :bash: I had to wait till my friend sent these photos. We got some good video and even video of them jumping, but I don't have a copy of the video yet.
After landing 4 fish, I was whipped, I still feel it in my arms!
Post by: Gringo31 on June 30, 2016, 08:39:06 PM
How often can guys go out and literally catch a ton of fish?
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Post by: HvyHorn338 on June 30, 2016, 08:44:20 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on June 30, 2016, 09:22:34 PM
Post by: denali on June 30, 2016, 09:46:33 PM
Post by: Bow tech hunter on June 30, 2016, 09:56:58 PM
Post by: Shrimper on June 30, 2016, 10:34:29 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on June 30, 2016, 10:36:11 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 30, 2016, 11:47:25 PM
Good trip, good times! I can still see your phone slowly sinking away into the deep. Hearing that your arms still hurt makes me smile. I appreciate you keeping the location vague, but not as much as just a couple guys hanging out on the water and laughing.
How often can guys go out and literally catch a ton of fish?
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Literally a ton of fun and laugh we did, what a grand time, and yes, I still see that phone fluttering side to side as it sank out of reach of the idiot in the boat! :hello:
Post by: nwwanderer on July 01, 2016, 05:48:33 AM
Post by: jackmaster on July 01, 2016, 06:12:40 AM
Post by: thatdamguy on July 01, 2016, 06:25:30 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on July 01, 2016, 06:57:33 AM
Quote
Any chance you might share the type of bait you guys were using?
Shad. This time of year those bigger fish are loading up on both shad and sockeye. But, some folks catch them on almost anything from herring, night crawlers, squid, etc. I've gotten real creative before without much for results. :chuckle:
Post by: Machias on July 01, 2016, 07:18:42 AM
Post by: thatdamguy on July 01, 2016, 07:28:44 AM
QuoteAny chance you might share the type of bait you guys were using?
Shad. This time of year those bigger fish are loading up on both shad and sockeye. But, some folks catch them on almost anything from herring, night crawlers, squid, etc. I've gotten real creative before without much for results. :chuckle:
Cool thanks for the info, going to give sturgeon fishing a shot in a couple weeks.
Post by: C-Money on July 01, 2016, 07:33:53 AM
Post by: cohoho on July 01, 2016, 09:34:19 AM
I do like offshore stuff, but the best times are always Over Sized Sturgeon fishing!
Post by: Gringo31 on July 01, 2016, 11:07:21 AM
The first pic with a pole in it is one I got from you !
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Post by: cohoho on July 02, 2016, 10:35:58 PM
Post by: robb92 on July 08, 2016, 04:44:35 PM