Well at least it was still moving when he put it hack in the water. Had he lassoed the tail, we probably wouldn’t be griping so much. Nice marks all over it I am sure from hoisting it up onto the dock. All things considered, the fish looked good when he put it back.
I have to hand it to him, he got himself an old monster.
That was hard to watch. (The joking by the talking heads…) KARE 11 is getting a nasty-gram and a phone call here soon….. 
-J.
I think there’s a number of people that need to realize what has happened here.
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That was hard to watch. (The joking by the talking heads…) KARE 11 is getting a nasty-gram and a phone call here soon…..
-J.
Glad to hear it.
Jon How about inviting them to do a story with one of us guys who know how to handle one. Many people are goiing to think this is just fine and dandy to handle a fish like this.
I agree with you pug by the tail would be much better!
The story made me cringe 
Now 9pm I just sent a letter to Kare 11 and let them know of my feelings toward the story and asked for some action to help correct the mistakes this story shows. (I hope this makes senseto you all)
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I agree with you pug by the tail would be much better!
Not ideal, but better than what he did.
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Jon How about inviting them to do a story with one of us guys who know how to handle one. Many people are goiing to think this is just fine and dandy to handle a fish like this.
Great idea, but they could care less. They see big fish and a story as a filler that will catch peoples eyes.
A story to them about proper handling of fish is a BIG YAWN to their producers.
Now if Brian K would’ve manned up and grabbed that gunman and taken him out in his boat, I’m sure a proper fish handling demonstration would’ve made top story in every local and possibly national newcast 
And it’s a good thing they always post a team down there to film such an event. I mean., otherwise that poor guy would have had to call them himself. 
They have a nice form you can fill out on the DNR website in the TIP section. 
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They have a nice form you can fill out on the DNR website in the TIP section.
I’m going to call my local game warden if I have the time tomorrow to see what his opinion is.
I already sent my Fan Mail to Kare 11.
Wow!!! he’ll wish he never wetted a line!
Sturgeon are pretty tough. The MN DNR gill nets them for tagging and release – at least that is what the biologist up on the rainy told me. If the fish was kept in the water – it should be fine. I have kept a few in the past and they made the trip from the Rainy in the livewell – nearly three hours home and appeared none the worse for wear.
As far as not having a tag for it……..looks like ticket material to me!
Tim
Wow, I just watched the video. Very sad. I hope he gets his nuggets kicked for treating any fish (other then a bass) that poorly.
Minnesota DNR is looking in to this case and is following this thread….
-J.
Moral of the story:
Know your laws. Ignorance is not an excuse 
.
I honestly feel bad for the guy. He didnt want to do anything more than show off his fish… but he did it in a very poorly thought out way. I really think its the responsability of fishermen to speak out when these things happen.. or things will never change from the “old school” methods.
In the end, I think its most important that the DNR makes a point that these kinds of things cant happen in a public sort of way(KARE 11 would be a good place ). Educating the public would be more valuable than any fine given to the fisherman… at the same time, there has to be some type of concequence(sp?) for the action.
I wouldnt doubt now we will need a sturgeon tag to fish for sturgeon next year.. that would be fine with me if some of those proceeds were going to benefit the specie research/management.
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I wouldnt doubt now we will need a sturgeon tag to fish for sturgeon next year..
Sturgeon Stamp??? 
Boy, wouldn’t that be a beautiful stamp .
I would buy it though. 
FYI…
I don’t yet have my sturgeon tag. I plan on getting one next time I head out just in case I run into the same situation as this guy. I still don’t plan on keeping one, maybe not even a state record…
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I wouldnt doubt now we will need a sturgeon tag to fish for sturgeon next year.. that would be fine with me if some of those proceeds were going to benefit the specie research/management.
Radio tracking??? 
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Sturgeon are pretty tough. The MN DNR gill nets them for tagging and release – at least that is what the biologist up on the rainy told me. If the fish was kept in the water – it should be fine. I have kept a few in the past and they made the trip from the Rainy in the livewell – nearly three hours home and appeared none the worse for wear.
I’m sure this was more than 5-7 years ago when it was legal to transport fish live in MN.
Since the spiney water flea invasion of LOTW/Rain River, not moving water around will “help” keep that little bugger contained.
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I’m sure this was more than 5-7 years ago when it was legal to transport fish live in MN.
Since the spiney water flea invasion of LOTW/Rain River, not moving water around will “help” keep that little bugger contained.
Yes – This was back in the day of no crowds whatsoever fishing sturgeon – maybe one or two(or zero) other boats fishing the 4-mile bay hole on a typical Saturday. Limit was 1 per day over 45″. I don’t recall seeing many keepers released. It was a different time and place. I kept several back then to smoke – and after thinking about a bottom feeder living years in that environment with all of the junk the papermill spewed out…after thinking of that while snacking on smoked fish……let’s just suffice it to say that I have not kept one in quite a while….They were delicious, but the thought of what might be in one made me cringe . Here’s hoping that whatever was in them did us no permanent damage!
Tim
Just curious, has anyone confirmed that he didn’t have a sturgeon tag? If he didn’t, the guy can’t be too bright. I’m also surprised that noone an Beanies would have told him what he was doing was illegal.
Second question, if he did have a tag, would it be legal for him to release the fish after keeping it tied up all night? I’m not saying this is ethical but just curious.
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Second question, if he did have a tag, would it be legal for him to release the fish after keeping it tied up all night?
From the MN DNR Fishing Regulations book, Page 13. “Any fish that is caught and will not be utilized must be immediately returned alive back to the water.”
You can read the entire regs Here
I dont think its actually confirmed the location was Beanies.. although many of us thinks that is the location.
The location is irrelavent, and the business is not responsible for the guys action. We cant expect someone to be there in the middle of the night to tell someone they cant keep a fish regardless.
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I’m going to call my local game warden if I have the time tomorrow to see what his opinion is.
I already sent my Fan Mail to Kare 11.
David,
Did you get a chance to call the DNR? I’d be curious if the guy had a tag. I don’t fish for sturgeon, but it sounds like if he did have a tag and he kept the fish after he got a legit weight, he would be legal. If he released the fish, like he claims he was going to do, he should get a ticket.
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We cant expect someone to be there in the middle of the night to tell someone they cant keep a fish regardless.
I agree, you can’t expect someone to be there in the middle of the night, but I would expect if anyone of us were on that dock when he was filming that video to inform him of any violiations (both legal and ethical).
Here are regulations…..
I think its safe to say he didn’t have a Sturgeon tag.
PierBridge,
Thanks alot. Now I finally understand why you can tell he didn’t have a tag.. It has to be fastened to the narrow portion of the body. Based on the video, it obviously didn’t have a tag. Sorry for the stupid questions.
Mn DNR enforcement is looking into this case. But everyone who is disgusted with the video should go to the KARE11 website, click on the “Contact Us” link and write a note to the newsroom there. I can’t believe they still have the video link on thier site!
Edit: Here is something I just sent them. (In addition to the 2 other note I sent yesterday!)
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Can’t believe you are still hosting that video! It’s disgusting to see an illegally possessed fish being shown there. The MN DNR is looking into this case of poaching. Maybe you should do a story on that!
-J.
Thanks Jon. I also just posted a reply to Kare11.
While I agree that a law was broken, I think people are being a little harsh here. I have no idea who this guy is, but I think it’s safe to assume he wasn’t doing any of this blatenly to break any laws. Should he be made an example of?….maybe……ticket?…..probably.
Seriously, a year ago, I had no idea about the tag deal.
100% correct about ignorance is not an excuse, but to call it poaching, is not right in my opinion.
I sent KARE a note as well, but mine (in a nutshell) said, this video you are broadcasting features an illegal fish and while it makes a great story, I’m sure you’ll agree that promoting this is bad judgment, and I hope a retraction is made.
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