Sturgeon opens in Quebec zone 10 today

[RJ]

We would all handle it differently if that day ever came I think.

[moonshine]

i agree that some say that sturgeon taste good but some say that sheep's eyes, bulls testicles and pig brain taste great as well. A 50 inch sturgeon would be over 50 yrs old. so in essence it would take 50 yrs to replace it. they don't spawn every year and the commercial fishery in quebec is destroying them just for the eggs. look them up if you want to eat one. cause once they take the eggs they just throw the rest away. killing any more would not only be a shame but a horrible fate for such a majestic creature.

[Todd B.]

Very interesting.....so what's the verdict on catching a fish (let's use a Muskie for arguement sake) that is under the legai size limit that cannot be revived????

TMH,

Here's the quote w.r.t. zero catch limits:

If the limit is zero, anglers may practise catch and release only and any fish caught must be released immediately back into the water in a manner that does not harm the fish. For some species there are no limits and no reference will be made to a limit in this Summary. See Size Limits, next page.

My understanding is that regardless of its condition it has to be released if you're not legally allowed to keep it. That being said if an angler is fishing for species that have zero catch limits or restricted size/slot limits, they should be following the catch and release guidelines so as to minimize any fish kills. I'm sure the odd fish kill is expected, however I'm sure the COs would charge someone if they were blatantly disregarding the catch/release practices, killing the majority of the fish they caught, while retaining only those that were legal.

If you want an official position on the regs just fire off an email to the MNR district office.

[Manny]

GG,

they are good smoked, if you are hell-bent on keeping one, or, just buy some at the Chelsea Smokehouse and release the ones you do catch.

Sturgeon are agressive feeding machines, 90% of your hits should occur within 10 minutes, if they are around. If you don't get a bite within 1/2 hour, you should be moving your bait or your whole set-up.... and replacing your baits.

Manny

[cprince]

Hey cprince, guess what...
The Ontario government tells me that it's OK to use a gaff to "assist in landing fish". It's right in there in the first few pages of the regs. Nowhere does it say that I'm required to keep a fish I gaffed.
Maybe when bass season opens I'll just leave the net at home. I don't eat bass so they'll have to go back, gaping holes and all. Maybe the few muskies I catch will get a gaffin' as well. Walleye? Sure why not. I'll even make a mini gaff out of a coat hanger to use for pannies. I'll post a youtube vid just for you.
The government says it's ok so lets take it at face value. No need for basic morals or common sense.

Come on... stay within reality. Describing eating a Sturgeon as being a-moral is hyperbole. It is also legal for me to bed a 16 year old girl... but you wont see me at a Hannah Montana concert any time soon.

All I am saying is that it is still legal to catch and keep Sturgeon in QC... why not do so.

I love how people who wouldn't stop to pee pee on Quebec if it was on fire start to pretend to know about our fishery and pontificate about something they know absolutely nothing about...

Craig

[joco]

the only thing i hate its that the comercial fishermans still allowed to keep some in the ottawa river..why are they able to keep a kota off sturgeons if they are less and less...... .

ho well...its a fun fish to catch it fight like not mutch other species can.
and yes smokes it so good....i love it.


my preferd spot for them is bouchette on the gatineau river. near maniwaki.

seens some 5-6 fooeter up there a few time inj my past 35 years up there.

joco

[GuinnessGuy]

GG,

they are good smoked, if you are hell-bent on keeping one, or, just buy some at the Chelsea Smokehouse and release the ones you do catch.

Sturgeon are agressive feeding machines, 90% of your hits should occur within 10 minutes, if they are around. If you don't get a bite within 1/2 hour, you should be moving your bait or your whole set-up.... and replacing your baits.

Manny

Manny,

If I remember correctly, the Chelsea smokehouse gets their sturgeon from the commercial fisheries that are on the Ottawa. If I were to buy there, I would be fueling the argument that there are very few left in the Ottawa River.

You're right about feeding machines. When I go out its #1 Find the ledge, #2 Fish the ledge. I wait for about an hour, to see if they move in with the scent of the bait. After an hour, I move to an other ledge.

[GuinnessGuy]

the only thing i hate its that the comercial fishermans still allowed to keep some in the ottawa river..why are they able to keep a kota off sturgeons if they are less and less...... .

ho well...its a fun fish to catch it fight like not mutch other species can.
and yes smokes it so good....i love it.


my preferd spot for them is bouchette on the gatineau river. near maniwaki.

seens some 5-6 fooeter up there a few time inj my past 35 years up there.

joco

Yikes! You just gave away a spot! (Just kidding Joco).

GG

[lifeisfun]

GG, I hope there is enough influence in this post on you to CPR
Good luck !

[Moosebunk]

Sturgeon in the Ottawa for the most part are Lake Sturgeon. The "odd" fish could "maybe" come out of the ocean and Larry's and be a green, rock or atlantic sturgeon, or "very unlikely" some other off kind. Never heard of yellow sturgeon, could be a locally adopted name, same as I think rock sturgeon and lake sturgeon are one in the same. Would have to check on that though.

Anyways, I used to have a passion for these guys too. Finally caught a couple Lake Sturgeon last spring. I would personally have a problem keeping one myself, of any size.

They are supposedly tasty. I've been offerred some from the Cree a few times, could have even bought some. Not cleaned right, any size can pose a little risk. I did once see a girl with quite the tummy ache and allergic reaction after eating some for the first time. Surely it was a rare case. As I understand it, the belly meat should maybe be wasted. You're wrong about them eating only dead things, but you're right in that they have little mercury. They can hold plenty other toxins though, as, they do feed at bottom and are a fattier fish.

Never heard of yellow sturgeon. As I had read somewhere once, most fish don't reach much past two feet in length before they're 15-20th year in life. It takes bigger fish to reproduce as well, and sturgeon only do so on average about every 4-5 years.

There are plenty fish in the sea to eat, if people left sturgeon alone awhile, there maybe could be more of them in the future to eat as well.

Remember one thing though... when and if you do catch one. These fish release well, usually, but especially if the waters not hot or they're out in blazing sun too long. They are good and hearty. You have a little more time with them on the water (as opposed to other fish) to decide whether or not you want to harvest for the sake of your being, or not to harvest for the sakes of both you and the fish. Tough call somedays.

I've harvested plenty fish for the table so maybe these ramblins' should mean squat. A sturgeon isn't something I could keep though... every bite would for one reason or another probably make me feel like a hippocrite.

[GuinnessGuy]

I lead you in the wrong direction. I translated Esturgeon Jaune to Yellow Sturgeon. The correct name for it is Lake Sturgeon.

GG

[joco]

GG that spot is not accesible...mutch..and bouchette is not that precise...plus not many target sturgeons.

and yes some sturgeons he as at the chelseay smokehouse was frome the ottawa river...niot sher its still like that since the new owner taugh.and yes i baught a load off it there...you can even bring your fish there to get smaoked....but this is n ot something i would sudgest after i pay like 55$ to smoke a lakers for myself...jeeeeeeee




in verendry park i saw a few time indians catch them wit a metal cable by the tail..

there is a few place in the ottawa river where the consentration off strgeons is higher.


joco.

[Eli]

I actually have a lot of respect for the PQMNR in their handling of most aspects of the fisheries. Theres great work being done right now in zones 8 and 9 in an attempt to bring another species back from the brink. Hopefully the sturgeon thing will change in the next few years.

[cprince]

Hopefully the sturgeon thing will change in the next few years.

But why?

What quantifiable evidence do you have about the decline of Sturgeon in Quebec? Just because Ontario has pollution, over fishing problems and invasive species doesn't mean Quebec has the same challenges.

Craig

[Bass Addict]

Absolutely mind boggling...


I myself would much more worry about the Snowy Owl declining than a Sturgeon ending up in a frying pan..