Norcal Sturgeon Video - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

hobb3s93 · 03-27-2007, 09:30 PM

t'was a beast

scwafish · 03-28-2007, 04:30 AM

The snares are a cool part of this unique fishery. I had tried it before in a pb without going down the rod as well with mixed success. Over the butt works super good, but the fish better not have another run in it!

wavster · 03-28-2007, 02:15 PM

Why the snare and not a net? Is this for C&R? If not, why not a gaff?

Excuse my ignorance, I just am...

ChuckE · 03-28-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavster

Why the snare and not a net? Is this for C&R? If not, why not a gaff?

Unless you have a mondo size net, most sturgeon won't fit. The slot limit is currently 46-66". Before 3/1/07 it was 46-72". DFG regs prohibit the use of gaffs for sturgeon. Most nets are just too small and the snare makes C&R much easier.

Here's a still pic of Mark's ~68" oversized dino. A few weeks earlier, it would have been a keeper.

Here's a pic that Sean took of my skunk busting 55" sturgeon.

ChuckE · 03-28-2007, 04:53 PM

Out of necessity.... not only do we use a snare.... but we've also developed a special bonker to crack through the armour plated head of sturgeon. We call it the "punisher" and it's simply made of galvanized pipe.

wavster · 03-28-2007, 05:14 PM

Wow! Those are some big fish. What's the fight like?

ChuckE · 03-28-2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavster

Wow! Those are some big fish. What's the fight like?

Although sturgeon are often seen jumping (we saw about a dozen jumpers that day), most of the fights i've seen are long steady runs. Smaller fish are more likely to do acrobatics.

Oversized dinos, like the ones that Mark and Sean hooked into recently, can easily drag you around for over half-an-hour.

Releasing anchor and going for the sleigh ride is usually the best way to tire'em out. Once you get its head to surface near the boat, the fight is just about over. Maybe... a couple more runs and your ready to snare'em.

One of our buddies hooked into a 66 incher that was spooling him until he released the anchor, reeled himself to the fish, and went for the ride. His fight only lasted a total of 12 minutes. I tell boaters and shore fishermen that story and few can believe it.

03-27-2007, 09:30 PM	#1
hobb3s93 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7	t'was a beast

03-28-2007, 04:30 AM	#2
scwafish Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ukiah Posts: 86	The snares are a cool part of this unique fishery. I had tried it before in a pb without going down the rod as well with mixed success. Over the butt works super good, but the fish better not have another run in it!

03-28-2007, 02:15 PM	#3
wavster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Encinitas Posts: 562	Why the snare and not a net? Is this for C&R? If not, why not a gaff? Excuse my ignorance, I just am...

03-28-2007, 04:53 PM	#5
ChuckE Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Leandro, CA Posts: 7	Out of necessity.... not only do we use a snare.... but we've also developed a special bonker to crack through the armour plated head of sturgeon. We call it the "punisher" and it's simply made of galvanized pipe.

03-28-2007, 05:14 PM	#6
wavster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Encinitas Posts: 562	Wow! Those are some big fish. What's the fight like?