Lucky sturgeon - North Channel

[Mike Thomas]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Lucky_sturgeon3.JPG

The crew from the MDNR Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station is working on our annual sturgeon assessment with setlines in the North Channel this week and next. Since some of you are avid sturgeon anglers I thought you'd be interested to know that Wednesday night a sturgeon poacher got his gear, and a sturgeon, tangled up on one of our setlines. The terminal tackle included 6 large treble hooks (no bait) and two weights (1 pound lead each). The line appears to be braided planer board line - bright green - probably ~200 pound test. Based on the location of the line where it was tangled up, the poacher(s) was fishing from a boat.

So it is clear that sturgeon poaching activity continues in the Algonac area. I have no doubt that the fish would have been killed and harvested had it not been lucky enough to get wrapped up on our survey gear. The fish was 55 inches long and weighed 40 pounds. Perhaps most amazingly, the fish was actually hooked in the mouth by one of those huge treble hooks. We recorded the routine biodata, tagged the fish, and released it. Hopefully it stays lucky and avoids another encounter with the poachers.

I encourage anyone out fishing for walleye after dark to keep their eyes open and call the RAP line (800-292-7800) if they observe poachers targeting lake sturgeon during the closed season. The sturgeon population and fishery in the North Channel is a unique resource and well worth protecting.

Mike Thomas
Fisheries Research Biologist
Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station
thomasmv@michigan.gov
586-465-4771

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Thanks for posting Mike.

[PencilPlugger]

I'll keep my eye out!

[kbkrause]

Thanks for the report and thank you for your work.

[motcityman]

Job well done. Got to hand it to you guys ... and I will keep my eyes open as well and spread the word to others I see at the launch's..

[Krull]

That is a new low in my book. A Sturgeon snagging rig? Ridiculous. I can't believe some of the scum that are out there. Hopefully the bastards get caught. That is a great break and glad to see the fish was released relatively unharmed.

[sweatyspartan]

perhaps a silly question - why would you want to keep a sturgeon? I haven't really heard much about their meat but I know that some people eat their eggs for caviar. Is that what they were going after?

[MakoWish]

I'll keep and eye out. Poor fella. Nice fish too. Glad it's ok.

[waterfoul]

perhaps a silly question - why would you want to keep a sturgeon? I haven't really heard much about their meat but I know that some people eat their eggs for caviar. Is that what they were going after?

Same question...

[Nascar31Fan]

I think you can smoke them and they taste ok. I thought I'd had some as a kid, the meat was cut just like salmon steaks. I'm not positive on this, my memory ain't what it onced was.

Either way, what a bunch of b.s. to target a fish in that manner. I say we treat the poachers the same way if they catch them.

[ahartz]

With yellow perch and walleye in amazing numbers in these same waters, I'll pass on the 40 year old sturgeon meat...to each his own though. You can harvest them within the slot limit.

Now to the poaching turds. These guys have to sleep at night like the rest of us. thats certainly not fishing, planer board line....WHAT????
The conservation officers should be keeping an eye on the late night fisherman. Just like cars going down the main road in my town at 2am that get almost a police escort...people fishing or even on the water at night are somewhat suspect....

The softest pillow is a clear conscience.....they'll get thier due.........andy

[RichP]

people fishing or even on the water at night are somewhat suspect....

What about walleye fishermen :confused:

[Get_Outside]

I'll take exception with that comment. Most of my (and quite a few others)walleye fishing is done at night! I have the same distain for anyone who poaches but that is a pretty broad brush your painting with there. :sad:

Mike you can bet that us law abiding fisherman keep an eye out for ANY illegal activities.

[yellowbelly80]

that makes me mad to hear that i got hooked on fishing for them last year after we got a few i dont think i could keep one after a 1/2 fight we gave them a kiss and let them go till next yearhttp://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/533/medium/DCP_0899.JPG

[Hoosier Daddy]

Well done YellowBelly and Sturgeon savers.Some people still don't understand how precious resources are.

[Mike Thomas]

The poachers were active again on Thursday night. Friday morning when we tended our survey setlines, we found two of them had been lifted and presumably any sturgeon on them were taken. Since at least one sturgeon was caught on the other lines we had deployed, I suspect at least two were poached from the two lines that were lifted. We don't fish the survey lines over the weekend, but will be back out next Monday thru Friday. Our survey area is from Deckers Landing up to Algonac Harbor Club. Again, I encourage honest anglers fishing in the North Channel after dark to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and to please report it to the RAP line (800-292-7800).

By the way, we did catch a 99 pound sturgeon on one of the lines that the poachers didn't screw up. The fish had a 31 inch girth and was 71 inches long. A picture of the fish is below.

Mike Thomas
MDNR Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station
thomasmv@michigan.gov
586-465-4771


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/99pounderv2.JPG

[sweatyspartan]

what a monster!

[The Terminator]

Beautiful fish. Any estimate on it's age.

Poachers ? sink'em !!!:rant:

The Terminators

[Natlight]

99 lbs, wow, :SHOCKED: :SHOCKED:

[salmonslammer]

:tdo12:
"I think we're going to need a bigger boat"


Thanks for sharing the info Mike :) I'm sure all of us honest fisherman will be keeping an eye out in that area when we're in the hood.

[ice fishin nut]

Nice fish Mike,,,, The "almost poached" fish you got, was that upstream or down from Lega's???? I might have to go whipping in the vacinity of your bouys and have my cell phone ready to dial Pinson!!!!!

I love to see people catch them during regular season, but hate to see the poachers going after my "babys"!!!!

[WALLEYEvision]

perhaps a silly question - why would you want to keep a sturgeon? I haven't really heard much about their meat but I know that some people eat their eggs for caviar. Is that what they were going after?

I spoke to an angler who was sturgeon fishing off the pier behind Lega's last year and he said he heard that the sturgeon poachers were getting around $200.00 a pound for the sturgeon on the black market. So it's pretty easy to see why sturgeon poaching is such a BIG problem.

BTW…rumor has it…that it’s not U.S., Canadian or Mexican citizens doing the poaching!!!

THANKS for the post MT!

[yellowbelly80]

The poachers were active again on Thursday night. Friday morning when we tended our survey setlines, we found two of them had been lifted and presumably any sturgeon on them were taken. Since at least one sturgeon was caught on the other lines we had deployed, I suspect at least two were poached from the two lines that were lifted. We don't fish the survey lines over the weekend, but will be back out next Monday thru Friday. Our survey area is from Deckers Landing up to Algonac Harbor Club. Again, I encourage honest anglers fishing in the North Channel after dark to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and to please report it to the RAP line (800-292-7800).

By the way, we did catch a 99 pound sturgeon on one of the lines that the poachers didn't screw up. The fish had a 31 inch girth and was 71 inches long. A picture of the fish is below.

Mike Thomas
MDNR Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station
thomasmv@michigan.gov
586-465-4771


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/99pounderv2.JPGi hope i catch that big pig this year :yikes: damn i dont think we could get that monster in the boat

[SmokerCraft]

:tsk: Its a DAMN shame someone would do shat like that, eh? Some people have a lot of damn nerve to ruin others people sturgeons fishing... I couldaw caught that sumbitch in july. goddam.:rant:

[SmokerCraft]

AND THATS A DAMMMMMMMNNNNNN NICE FISH TOO YA'LL!!!!!!

[landshark]

holy sweet mother of god is thatr one sweeeeeeeeeeetttttttt sturgon.
now my blood is realy flowing. is it 00:01 16 july 2006 yet.

fish on.

oh and for the poachers. when they get caught if they get busted.
take them big treables and hang them by there famely jewls.

[Robert Hoover]

we fish the river all night to day break you see boats running it all night and with those nets by some good wippping spots you think someone would have seen them

[SmokerCraft]

Spot has a white spot in his hair!

[Trippin' Dipsies]

Mike,

Are the DNR lines in the same place they have been in past years? I was out Friday evening but never saw the buoys where I've seen them in the past. I'll post your info on some other fishing websites...

PS: Amber says hi and misses going out there with you guys........

[Mike Thomas]

Trippin: We don't leave any gear out over the weekends. We're fishing the same areas as in the past - basically between Algonac Harbor Club and Deckers Landing. We move the lines from day to day (Monday thru Friday), depending on how many sturgeon we catch, how much walleye fishing activity is in the area, etc. We try to avoid setting the lines in areas that are popular walleye fishing locations. Tell Amber we all miss having her work here too. I hope she knows she's always welcome to come along whenever she wants (same for you).

Terminator: We take a piece of fin for determining the age of the sturgeon we catch. We won't have it processed until late summer or fall, but I'm sure a sturgeon that large is over 50 years old and very likely 65 to 75 years old.

Ice Fishin Nut: The "almost poached" sturgeon was near Sassy.

Thank you all for your support!

[Robert Hoover]

how do you get them in the nets or lines or whatever. just curious and oh yeah how do you get banned from this site thats some kind of acomplishment is their a trophy or award for it:lol: . i also think the poaching is tough these arnt little fish someone has to see them or here the comotion all those houses and people i just dont think a 60+ inch fish will slide into a conceled spot hope you get them and lashem with a lead full of pencil plugs:evil:

[Bogey]

Do you think these poaching lines are tended to at all times or are they left like the DNR lines and tended to periodically? I have heard stories from my neighbor(long time local and river rat but not a poacher) about how guys will leave unmarked lines out then drag for them later. This would make the poachers a little harder to catch since they are always on the move. Plus, I'm sure they are locals and can go right home without going to a public launch.

Could these lines be reset in the same vacintiy, without hooks of course, and then monitor the area at night? I'm sure volunteer monitors would come pretty easy! Just a thought. It sure would be nice to catch these S.O.B'S and string 'em up.

[PontoonJimbo]

Mike,
You can bet I'll keep and eye out for those poachers! Thats a sin against mother nature and the fisher of this area. Keep me posted on the outcome of anything buddies.

Tight Lines ALL!:) ~Jim

[hitechman]

the opportunity to go out with these guys last year (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100176) and what a thrill. A case of DNR dollars well spent.

Steve