Sturgeon is the common name of the group of the fishes of the family Acipenseridae. Sturgeons are referred to as “primitive species”. Sturgeons are identified by groups and known as long-lived bony fish.

Sturgeon cover 27 species of fish, and their wide distribution makes them vulnerable to over fishing, pollution and habitat destruction, and most of the species are threatened.

General Description:

Body Shape and Body Color:

Sturgeons have elongated bodies with flattened rostra.

The body color is brown, olive or bluish-black on the dorsal side. The belly is white with paler sides.

Body Size and Body Weight:

Sturgeon are those bony fishes whose skeleton is almost cartilaginous. They can reach up to the length of 20ft and weigh approximately 1200 kg. 

Mouth and Tail:

They have protrusible toothless mouths but have four barbels. Barbels are the sensory organ that helps them to navigate their habitat, dragging.

They have heterocercal tails, with an upper longer lobe.

Scutes and Fins:

The Sturgeon body is covered with 5 rows of heavy large scutes rather than scales. These scutes are smooth as sturgeon grow.

 

Habitat of Sturgeon:

Sturgeon are freshwater fish or either anadromous. They are present in standing waves, boulder pockets, rocks, drop-offs, small pointed waves, merging waves, current edges, river deltas and estuaries.

Distribution Range of Sturgeon:

Sturgeons are widely distributed from subtropical and subarctic waters. They are present in North America, China, Canada, Eurasia, the European Atlantic coast, Italy, Russia, Pacific Ocean, Japan, Korea and Central Asia.

Diet of Sturgeon:

Sturgeons are benthic feeders being toothless. They can not easily seize their prey. They feed non-visually, and their diet mostly contains,

• Shellfish
• Small fish
• Salmon

Life Cycle of Sturgeon:

Sturgeons are also known as late-maturing species; for spawning, they require specific conditions such as clear water with the rocky substrate, perfect photoperiod in spring, flowing water for eggs flow, and suitable water temperature.

From their long life span of about 60 years, sturgeons are sexually mature at 15 years. The female produces about 3 million eggs; out of them, few are fertilized and, after 15 days, turn into larvae. Sturgeon larvae can grow up to 20 cm during the first year of their growth.

Different Behaviors:

• Sturgeons rely on their senses as electroreception, olfactory, tactile, chemo sensory cues by barbels. They exhibit different behaviors based on these signals, which help them during mating, migration, feeding and protecting them from predators.

• The electroreceptors on the head are sensitive to electrical signals and can easily detect the signs from different geoelectric sources and other animals.

• Sturgeons produce a strong splash sound by leaping forcefully out of water; this sound can be heard from miles away. This behavior helps them shed eggs during spawning, sends signals to their group members to catch airborne prey, maintain school against the danger, and help their predators escape and clear their parasites.

Sturgeon Fishing:

Sturgeon Fishing Methods:

There are some common methods to catch sturgeon, and these are,

• Trolling
• Fly Fishing
• Drift Fishing
• Jigging
• Still Fishing

Sturgeon Fishing Lures and Baits:

Lures and baits for sturgeon fishing are simple. You can use artificial soft baits or live baits, flies, crabs, cut baits, spoons, jigs, rigs, spinner baits.

Sturgeon Fishing Gear:

Sturgeon are difficult to target, and for sturgeon, you need a maximum drag power heavy category reel. 

Make sure your rod can bear up to 30 pounds. The perfect rod reel combination will brighten your day.

Some Uses of Sturgeon:

Some uses of sturgeon are,

• Primarily as a source for caviar.
• Sturgeon swim bladder is used as a source of isinglass.
• During King Edward II of England, sturgeon were declared as royal fish.
• For parchments preservation.
• As a precursor of gelatin.