Gear and Bait Options
White Sturgeon are large, powerful fish that are typically found in areas of strong current. Fishing successfully for sturgeon requires heavy tackle. Anglers usually use medium-heavy to heavy rods with soft tips which aid in bite detections, paired with reels spooled with braided or monofilament line rated 50–100-pound test. Pyramid sinkers weighing 4-16 ounces are typically used depending on the strength of the current to hold the line in place. Sturgeon are bottom feeders and typically don’t take lures, so anglers almost exclusively target them with bait. Every angler has their preference, but the most common baits for White Sturgeon in California include shrimp (either ghost, mud, or grass), lamprey (“eel”), and salmon roe. Some anglers also have success with pile worms, nightcrawlers, shad, or herring. Only one single point, single shank, barbless hook may be used when fishing for sturgeon and the fish must voluntarily take the bait or lure inside its mouth. No sturgeon may be taken by trolling, snagging, cast netting, or by the use of firearms. Anglers may use two rods only if they are east (inland) of the Carquinez Bridge and have a two-rod stamp in their possession.
Playing and Landing
Considering their large size and fighting reputation, White Sturgeon are extremely subtle when taking bait. Anglers will need to keep their lines taut and learn to watch their rod tips carefully for very gentle taps and pumps while the sturgeon sucks down the bait. Novices may benefit from fishing with an experienced partner or a fishing guide until they learn the secrets of these ancient fish. Once hooked, anglers should land and release White Sturgeon as quickly as possible, prolonged fights can be extremely stressful and the fish may not recover. When possible while fishing in strong current, boaters should drift or follow a hooked sturgeon so that the fish is not fighting the current as well as the line.
Handling
Any White Sturgeon greater than 60-inch Fork Length (and all Green Sturgeon) may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Large sturgeon are very heavy and can easily be injured if they attempted to be dragged onshore or brough into a boat. They do not have a strong internal skeleton to resist gravity and can easily suffer internal injuries when their enormous weight is not supported by water or banged on hard surfaces.
White Sturgeon less than 60 inches FL may be landed briefly but must be released promptly. A mesh sling or large sturgeon-sized net is the safest and best way to remove sturgeon from the water. Sturgeon may not be gaffed, tail roped or snared. Keep the fish horizontal and well supported when handling them in air. Sturgeon of any size shall not be held out of water suspended by the gills, gill plates, mouth, or solely by the tail. Fish lip grippers should not be used on sturgeon. The mouth and jaw of sturgeon is comprised of soft cartilage and skin and can easily be punctured or damaged. These devices focus all of the weight of the fish on a small area and should never be used to control or lift sturgeon. Do not squeeze sturgeon – this can harm their organs and lead to death. Sturgeon may not be dragged across the ground, boat decks, or piers.
Once landed, remove hooks quickly and gently. A hook remover or needle-nosed pliers can be helpful. If the fish is deeply hooked, bleeding heavily, or is hooked near the gills, be prepared to cut the hook or the line. Studies have shown that sturgeon process and expel hooks and tackle well and the fish is more likely to survive if you release it quickly rather than struggle to remove a hook.
It is OK to stop briefly to take a picture of a White Sturgeon if it is healthy and uninjured, but it must be released promptly afterward. No sturgeon may be tethered, restrained, or kept in a live well. Release them as soon as possible after capture. Hold small sturgeon (<60-inch Fork Length) with two hands – one placed under the head and pectoral fins and one holding just in front of the tail. Wear gloves to protect both you and the sturgeon.
Handle each fish as little as possible. Fish slime is an important part of the immune system that protects the fish from injury, infection, and disease. Use wet hands or gloves to avoid removing slime.
Releasing
Recover fish before release when possible. Keep them submerged and faced head-first into the current until they start to struggle or swim off on their own. If you are fishing from shore, select a location where you can release large fish without bringing them onto land. You may need to be prepared to get into shallow water when releasing sturgeon. Just because a fish swims away after release does not guarantee it will survive. Responsible anglers use good, ethical handling practices to ensure that the species continues to survive and thrive.
It is the responsibility of every angler to handle sturgeon with care and release them unharmed.