AOTY Sturgeon

This is putting the cart way in front of the horse but curiosity is getting to me.

If you have experience dealing with legal sized sturgeon, what type of system have you devised to handle, measure, and photo these beasts if you plan to release them?  Thinking in terms of AOTY.

I'm thinking the hooking and playing would be relatively easy compared to the rest.

Probably the easiest and best thing is to have help from someone else. If you're not going to keep them, your goal is to minimize handling. That's tough to do by yourself if a photo is needed.

Jay

Good question. A good plan is important since these dinos have rose thorns along their sides.

First, I'd say is to tire them out. No use in trying to handle a huge fish that's got a lot of energy and a weapon. It's easy to tell when a dino's finished as they start to blow bubbles. I used to use a snare over the head/tail but rules on them in OR/WA are really spotty. I have recently gone to just putting on some heavy duty gloves and grabbing them in the mouth and then putting my game clip through the gills and out the mouth if I think it's legal. There's no teeth on dinos and you can actually handle them pretty well. I've got marks on the side of my yak so I can measure them w/o taking them out of the water. If they are legal I'll bonk 'em and throw 'em in back.

Z

I have marks on the side of my kayak and wear leather gloves.  No legal sturgeon for me yet, but I've managed to measure and release several that were an inch or two shy of the slot limit.   Most of the sturgeon roll over when they're done and a hand in the mouth and one to hold their body next to the side of the kayak and you can get a pretty good measurement. 

Now getting the photo is another thing.  You're best bet is that if you're keeping the fish to get the photo of your measurement once you get home.   Otherwise the CnR photo is going to require some help from a buddy.


Brian

Sturgeon are pretty robust and extremely mellow after you've taken them out of the water.  Once they've been played out, you can grab them by the nose, on either side of their head or just behind the last row of scutes on their tales and pull them into your lap. No, I'm not kidding or messing with you.

I have the length marked on my yak for a quick in the water comparison but if it's a close call, hop them up in your lap and paddle to shore for a better look.  If you're solo, this is probably the best way to get your AOTY shot also.  They can survive a very long time out of the water.  Take advantage of that.

If you're going to C-n-R, don't stick your hand in their mouth or gills and don't run em thru with a game clip.  They're relatively easy to handle and are generally very patient.
 

If you're going to C-n-R, don't stick your hand in their mouth or gills and don't run em thru with a game clip.  They're relatively easy to handle and are generally very patient.
 

Okay, I understand staying away from the gills and the game clip, but I don't see how holding the fish by the mouth in the water is more harmful than dragging it out of the water for a longer duration.

If you're going to C-n-R, don't stick your hand in their mouth or gills and don't run em thru with a game clip.  They're relatively easy to handle and are generally very patient.
 

Okay, I understand staying away from the gills and the game clip, but I don't see how holding the fish by the mouth in the water is more harmful than dragging it out of the water for a longer duration.

'Cause it's mean...... DUH!

Man, I've been listening to my girlfriend for way too long!  Actually, it's just a personal preference to minimize damage to their feeding apparatus.  I guess that if they can deal with having a full mooching rig and 2 sturgeon hooks buried in there and still feed (like one I caught last week did) then a fist can't be too traumatic.  I think that the more I handle them and realize how gentle they are, the more empathy I feel for them.  Damn!  I'm becoming a chick.... 

If you're going to C-n-R, don't stick your hand in their mouth or gills and don't run em thru with a game clip.  They're relatively easy to handle and are generally very patient.
 

Okay, I understand staying away from the gills and the game clip, but I don't see how holding the fish by the mouth in the water is more harmful than dragging it out of the water for a longer duration.

'Cause it's mean...... DUH!

Man, I've been listening to my girlfriend for way too long!  Actually, it's just a personal preference to minimize damage to their feeding apparatus.  I guess that if they can deal with having a full mooching rig and 2 sturgeon hooks buried in there and still feed (like one I caught last week did) then a fist can't be too traumatic.  I think that the more I handle them and realize how gentle they are, the more empathy I feel for them.  Damn!  I'm becoming a chick.... 

Mark,
Here's your new dry bag

... I've got marks on the side of my yak so I can measure them w/o taking them out of the water. If they are legal I'll bonk 'em and throw 'em in back.

I have marks on the side of my kayak and wear leather gloves.  ...

... I have the length marked on my yak for a quick in the water comparison ...

I've been thinking of this myself.  How and where did you mark your boats?

I've been thinking of this myself.  How and where did you mark your boats?

Sharpie on the side I'm most comfortable on.    I have a zero mark up by my feet near the waterline on the side of my kayak and marks for ever inch within the slot up near my seat.  I dont' think I have great picture of the whole thing anywhere, but in this photo you can at least see my zero mark.

Like B I used a sharpie. It doesn't stay on forever but that's a good thing.

Z

Cool.  A sharpie it is!