100+ lb Lake Sturgeon on video!

My biggest to date and just an epic experience. Hope you guys enjoy!

Good Job guys!!! great fish well handled and a great story of a lifetime

Awesome fish! Congrats. When did you tie into that beast?

I’m keeping the boat accessible just for that reason.

Nice fish.
Congrats.

Could’ve probably not left that fish lay on the floor while getting 2nd fish caught. There were 3 of you and you are setting the example.

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That fish make you look very small Jacob!
How big was the second one? The girth makes it look like a 50ish!

Nice fish. Congrats!

-J.

Curious to others thoughts if that was a 12# walleye, 6# bass or 4# crappie flopping on the deck of a potentially freezing boat for 5-10min while you haul in another fish.

Its an amazing fish for sure you guys. Absolutely amazing, period. But it just seems completely disrespected laying there. I’ll echo Fishblood, you have 3 guys in the boat. Neglect to a point I’d be cautious of throwing it the WWW, don’t think this is close to any state DNRs definition of responsible CPR.

Watched the video right away when it came it as well all your guys videos BC they are very cool and entertaining. This one struck me the wrong way, so sorry for rant if I’m off base.

I thought the best shot was the release.

Thanks for the concern both fishblood and nhamm.

The fact of the matter is the fish did not stay out of the water for 5-10 minutes. With a fish this size I didn’t want to just flop it overboard without any help and I wanted the time in the water with it to properly revive it – rather than send it over the edge hoping it was ok.

Yes we did have a second fish hookup, yes I made the decision to get that fish in as quick as possible (1-2 minutes tops) – as to not flop the big fish back in and get it tangled in the line from the fish that was hooked up.

We can all look at it in different ways – my thoughts were:

1. I don’t want this massive fish tangled in new line on the way back down to the depths (sturgeon circle the boat and this was a real concern)
2. I didn’t want to try to release it on my own because there is no way I was getting it over the side of the boat without help and with the proper handling it deserved to revive it

We have been taught and take great lengths to protect all fish when catching and releasing.

Are you guys right? Am I right? Who knows – what I do know is it swam away healthy and on its own accord.

I would in no way consider myself to be right in regards to this topic. Simply stated my concerns. And appreciate your response tremendously.

The way I tend to learn is by seeing, and with the video in conjunction with your reasoning behind it will affect how I handle such situations in the future, as well as many other people who stumble upon this thread in the years to come. Thanks for the response again, and magnificent creature you guys caught

Hang these guys!

Nice fish Jakob!!M

Thats awesome.

These fish are GILL NETTED AND RELEASED for tagging and research. They are extremely hardy – and a few minutes out in the cold ain’t hurting it a damned bit. If the anglers wet hands weren’t hurt, neither was the fish.

These days it seems like nobody is allowed to catch a nice fish with somebody telling them they should have done it differently…..sheesh.

I’ll echo what Timmy wrote. I did not see anything in the video that would concern me. 90 degree day in the middle of summer, maybe. But these conditions would not hurt this fish.

I have seen the DNR up on Rainy take as long or longer to tag and record sturgeon in the spring. They are tuff fish.

Again Jacob, great catch and thanks for sharing your story here. What a fish!

-J.

I am a little concerned how long some rookies might make love to them for vid/camera sessions during the winter though now that it’ll be annoyingly popular, and how that could hurt these old girls. Gills freeze fast.

They’re hearty; I say keep them in the boat as long as you can

Come on guys.

I hear what’s being said. Personally I would have done exactly what Jacob did. Why? Because I know that few 50+ inch sturgeon can’t be released by just plopping them back into the water.

Many times I’ve held sturgeon for 20 minutes or better before I KNOW they rested and will swim away safely. I’ve had plenty of sore backs by holding them over the side of the boat until they burp and swim away. Now a little smarter I use the net until I’m comfortable they are good to go although sometimes I can talk clients into holding them.

Would it be better to get them back into the water faster? Of course. But it’s better to hold them a little longer to ensure a good release then to let them back and question it.

Can we move on now?

That’s really interesting Brian. The last hundred sturgeon I’ve released in the last 60 days or less, many over 50″, have swam swan Strong, and immediately.
I believe I’m probably reeling them in faster and I know I’m releasing in that 20-50 seconds out of the water range.

I don’t remember one time ever holding a sturgeon for 20 minutes let alone two minutes.

Odd your fish require such a long revival process. How much time out of water?
Touchy subject but I don’t give a rats pitute.

Normally they stay out of the water for three photos and a measurement. Sometimes a weight in the net is taken.

Some larger fish take off right away, others take longer.

It’s true that I have different people in my boat and some can bring a fish in faster.

“Most” of the time on the fish that take more time, they will burp and then they’re ready to go.