Sturgeon in the Cooper?

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
21

How would you target these? What bait? What fishing technique?

ericpret

22
quote:
Originally posted by ericpret

How would you target these? What bait? What fishing technique?

ericpret

That’s some million dollar questions right there sir!

Fishing Nerd

“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”

23
quote:
Originally posted by ericpret

How would you target these? What bait? What fishing technique?

ericpret

From DNR website:

Atlantic sturgeons are the largest fish living in freshwater on the entire Atlantic coast. During the mid-1970s, half of the US landings of this species came from South Carolina, in particular in Winyah Bay. The fishery for this species in South Carolina was closed in 1985 and other Atlantic States. The Atlantic sturgeon is federally listed as an endangered species.

'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki

24
quote:
Originally posted by tigerfin
quote:
Originally posted by ericpret

How would you target these? What bait? What fishing technique?

ericpret

From DNR website:

Atlantic sturgeons are the largest fish living in freshwater on the entire Atlantic coast. During the mid-1970s, half of the US landings of this species came from South Carolina, in particular in Winyah Bay. The fishery for this species in South Carolina was closed in 1985 and other Atlantic States. The Atlantic sturgeon is federally listed as an endangered species.

'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki

Maybe not so million dollar-ish…lol

Thanks for that!:smiley:

Fishing Nerd

“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”

25

There is a zillion around GT. Especially at the mouth of the Sampit, good many toward jetties, and up the Waccamaw. Someone is gonna get killed or injured at some point.

26

I can vouch for the amount in the gt/winyah bay lol… I can say at the least last Saturday we seen 10 bigggins jumping off the north jetty tip within 2 miles in dirty water… marked a ton of bait and really big streaks on the simrad evo2… we moved into clean water and the bait was much much less and 0 signs of big streaks on plotter/sounder… they are really cool to see jump and when you tell people to keep an eye out they always look at you like what are you telling me about some fish story till they see it lol…

27

If there are so many of them, why are they endangered?
Maybe a Ralph Nader kind of idea?

ericpret

28

They were fished heavily, commercially, for many years just for their roe. Caviar. Until they were almost gone, then put on the protected species list. But like alligators, they have made a huge comeback and aren’t so endangered anymore.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

29

I’m not sure their are sooooo many… but they are making a come back which is nice to see… you don’t really hear of them as an accidental catch which I find kinda odd since the jettys and such get worked decent hard…

you don’t see many smaller ones just some very decent size adults… I have 0 knowledge on spawning or general age where these fish would create an abundance of offspring but they do seem to be on an incline unlike allot of fish right now…

30

Cracker Larry,

So these are now off endangered list?

Can I fish for these? How?

Sturgeon is a tasty fish. It bakes well and smokes superbly.

Plus if I target these, it will likely be from a yak. That should make an epic ride!!

ericpret

31
quote:
Originally posted by ericpret

Cracker Larry,

So these are now off endangered list?

Can I fish for these? How?

Sturgeon is a tasty fish. It bakes well and smokes superbly.

Plus if I target these, it will likely be from a yak. That should make an epic ride!!

ericpret

When I used to see them caught (30+ years ago) they were all taken by net our rivers. Don’t know how you’d fish for them with line and pole?

Cracker? what you say?

Closest fish to a pork chop there is. IMO. Very good eating. Don’t care a thing for the roe.

One of our salesmen had one jump in his boat and die a few years ago. Huge raskle, man did it stink! (edit: it had been in the boat for a couple of days, boat was in water at dock) Edisto River near Givans.

“If Bruce Jenner can keep his wiener and be called a woman, I can keep my firearms and be considered disarmed.”

32

I’ve never seen one caught on hook and line. We’ve caught quite a few while pulling shrimp nets, and my Dad used to fish for them in the Ogeechee River with large set nets. I’m not sure of their official status now but SC doesn’t even list them in their fishing regulations.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

33

I was curious when someone was going to ask about catching/keeping/eating a sturgeon. The Atlantic Sturgeon, the larger of the Sturgeon family, is not listed as endangered, but all fisheries for them have been closed by the federal boys http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/diadrofish/atlanticsturg.html . The Shorthose Sturgeon is listed as endangered so you know what that means http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/diadrofish/shortnosesturg.html . Sorry to disappoint those of you hoping to catch and/or eat you some Sturgeon.

-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish

34

Atlantic sturgeon are definitely federally endangered in South Carolina.

From USFWS:
http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=E0A7

From NOAA:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/section_7/threatened_endangered/Documents/south_carolina.pdf

From the Federal Code, including descriptions of the DPSs–SC is split between the Carolina DPS and the South Atlantic DPS.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/50/224.101

G

35

I think I caught a small one in Lake Marion years ago.
Didn’t think much of it at time excep how odd it was to catch one.
Knew enough to put it back.
I either caught it on stink bait or earth worms.
I see them jumping in Winyah Bay all of the time.
Talked to some guys at the landing last fall who had one jump in the boat with them.
Said it scared them to death… :sunglasses:

36

We have had them hit cut bait on the bottom before in the Edisto river catfishing before. My brother had one jump in his boat on year. He called DNR and kept it alive until they got there to tag it.

fish sleep repeat

37

They are in the Cooper, I’ve seen them on the bottom, run right up on them diving for fossils and other goodies. Scared me first time, thought it was a gator.