Re: son in laws fish
Nate- the thing about Sturgeon is that 'guess aging' them by size (especially over 60") isn't even close to accurate. Most fish that size are typically females however - that I can tell ya(males RARELY get over 60")
. Maturation rates of these things are pretty slow and very broad. Males don't 'sexually mature' until around 15yrs old at 40-45"/10-20lbs and females around 20-25yrs at 50-60"/40-60lbs. Growth rates are similar up to around 40" then the males slow and females increase (or something like that). The only reliable method to age these things is to take a cross-section of a particular fin but I'm not too sure which one. I'd bet its safe to
assume its older than 50yrs old..
<br /><br />guys- chances are that that fishes' off-spring (larva/eggs) have been shipped out to water systems in your area where they're supplimenting a rehab program (even abroad). The Lake Winnebago system is said to likely have the largest self sustaining Lake Sturgeon population in the world and is used for a source of egg and larva collection for these rehab programs.<br /><br />Truth is that these things are thick as fleas on a stray dogs back here!<br /><br />If anyone has ever fished the Winnebago or Wolf River system chances are they've hooked into one. I've had days Walleye fishing the river where all I hooked into were these damn things! .. These things are the main reason I have dropped down to 4lb mono when fishing (jigging) there.. "break it off" is the montra.<br /><br /><br /> Dunaruna asked:<br />
Aren't they the primary source of caviar? <br />
Not Lake Sturgeon.. I'd guess that Salmon roe is tops on the list there Durauna.. Cod is probably up there as well. I know there are a bunch of different species of Sturgeon and roe. I'm not for certain tho. <br /><br />another thing about that (caviar).. guessing the fish above has close to 30lbs of it in her if it's a female.<br /><br />fellas, the reason why they spear them instead of using hook/line is that its more difficult to do so.. and less stressfull on the population.<br /><br />variable #1 ... water clarity. If its bad so is the spearing.<br />variable #2 ... seeing one.<br />variable #3 ... seeing one in less then a 6x8 (maximum) area.<br />variable #4 ... seeing one thats legal size (36" minimum)<br />variable #5 ... being conscious when you see one .. cause staring down a hole for so long in a 'dark house' has an adverse affect on a guy ( try staring at a snowbank for 6hrs straight waiting for sasquatch to pop his head out .. this might put you in the mind set
)etc., ... ... <br /><br />you get the point. Here's a TYPICAL hole - @2'x4' .. what you see in the water is a 'decoy'.. these are used as 'comfort decoys' much like waterfowlers using a Heron decoy next to their blind.<br />
<br /><br />Harvesting a fish like this would be like harvesting a 50" Musky, 30lb King, a 10lb 30" Walleye , 20" Crappie, a 40" Northern, a 2lb Bluegill, etc., .. in Wisconsin waters.<br /><br />Tag sales = $20 resident/$50 non-resident (plus your regular license cost) I hear they sold around 120 non-res. tags and 8000 res. = $166,000.00 in tag sales alone for a season that last year lasted 1 day... Thats alot of school books we as sportsmen are (indirectly) 'flippin the bill' for!
