Second Day sturgeon fishing

I headed out with Jammer this morning to try to get some AOTY points, unfortunately the legal fish were not cooperating.  Jammer got skunked and I ended up with 5 fish; 2 under 20" a 24", a 29" and a 34".  All but one fish came within 2 hours after Jammer left. 
While the NWKA sticker has been helping me catch fish I think the real improvement in hookup ratio came when I stopped using half hitches on my bait and switched to stretchy string.     

I've decided I don't care for stretchy string but do like half hitches. U using shrimp?

I was switching between shrimp and herring,both were producing. 

Nice looking fish. A five fish day isn't too shabby, points or not.

i've not had the chance to verify, but i'm sure i'll hear all about it tomorrow.  Rumors suggest 1000 fish were kept on thursday in the Willy... if that's true, and the pressure since, season might be over.

i've not had the chance to verify, but i'm sure i'll hear all about it tomorrow.  Rumors suggest 1000 fish were kept on thursday in the Willy... if that's true, and the pressure since, season might be over.

I haven't heard any specific numbers but I can vouch that sturgeon fishing has been pretty darn good with lots of keeper fish being caught, some nice size ones to boot.  Boat limits were the rule for myself (thurs/fri) and the circle of PB friends I share reports with.  I would have no trouble believing 1000 fish, or maybe more, were caught over the 3 days it was open.

I ended up with 5 fish; 2 under 20" a 24", a 29" and a 34".

Sorry no keepers but a great day by normal fishing standards.  Well done.

On Stretch string vs half hitches.

Pacific Ghost Productions (http://www.pacificghostproductions.com/) has a video that shows a sturgeon guide (Kevin Newell) half hitching all the way up the bait.  It looks great and must be very secure.  You will see the technique he uses within the first 3 minutes.  Whole video is good.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/movies/miniact9acrg/arg.swf

I watched that video earlier this year and was using half hitches on herring the first few times I headed out.  My biggest problem is that I use circle hooks so when i set the hook I would pull the hook out of their mouth.  I tried setting the hook all sorts of ways but was never able to get a solid hookset. Since switching to stretchy string I have not missed a hit on herring. 
The catch rate for the boats around me yesterday was much lower than on Thursday.  I only saw one other fish landed and heard no hooting or hollering.  It wouldn't surprise me if the season closed this weekend though.  Hopefully, we get one more weekend. 

Nice work dogg! Sounds like the fishing really improved after I left. Seems like the NWKA stickers that Zee handed you at the expo are bringing you plenty of sturgeon mojo now from that kayak. Maybe it's time I install 'em. If I left at noon, what time did you start slayin em? Nice work!

My biggest problem is that I use circle hooks so when i set the hook I would pull the hook out of their mouth.  I tried setting the hook all sorts of ways but was never able to get a solid hookset.

Yeah, circles aren't made for hook setting. Why not go with a siwash?

Z

Most of the fish came right around 2 o'clock with the last one being caught around 3.   
I like circle hooks because I am not a fan of gut hooking fish, unless I know I am going to eat them. 

Good job ND.  You'll get one keep at it.

I personally haven't gut hooked a sturgeon and can't say I've seen it done either. Most of the time the hook is in the roof of the dinos mouth or in some part of that funky elephant mouth of theirs. A siwash or octopus hook is going to give you a better chance of hooking well. But if it's working for you, all good.

Z

I personally haven't gut hooked a sturgeon and can't say I've seen it done either. Most of the time the hook is in the roof of the dinos mouth or in some part of that funky elephant mouth of theirs. A siwash or octopus hook is going to give you a better chance of hooking well. But if it's working for you, all good.

Z

Been there and done that with an Octopus hook on a 36" fish (nose to tail).  Lifting it over the boat rail did some real damage....  But that's only once out of hundreds.

-Spot-