Area 17 Sturgeon

Red Fish

Senior Member
#1
-Headed out today about 3pm because the conditions looked right, rain.

-Left right before 3 hitting a little traffic and was fishing by 3:30. Fished about an hour and got a 52” inch, fork-length white sturgeon.

-One guy exclaims, “You’ve been here 30 minutes.”
I thought about Brian Linebarger as I baited up lamprey eel on a 9/0 diamond cut Owner (bought at Kmart $3/3hooks) and hurled an eight ounce pyramid into the depths. I remember when we fished there on a derby and he said, “ It’s already deep. You don’t have to cast far!”

-So, I casted out my trusty Penn 525 with 300 yards of 50# Power Pro and set my Shimano Trevala jig rod in the holder with a red bell on it. I just went on about cutting some bait, conversing with some other guys and setting up a shrimp trap. I mentioned to one familiar guy that “If you get a sturgeon, you can have sturgeon for Thanksgiving!” jokingly.

-Not too long after 3 or 4 guys say, “Hey your rod is bending over in the corner!” as I then hear it and hurry over. I picked it up, still pumping, and give a decent upward tug and feel tension. I crank down the 6:1 with HT-100 and pursue battle. A little slack is felt and the fish breaks the surface 40 yards out will a tail dance to shake the hook. I thought maybe she was successful but she wasn’t?

-A 20 minute battle followed and I left the star drag right where it was not adjusting an inch. I let the fish run out when it wanted and took in line when I could until it finally acquiesced!

-A slot fish at 52” which I quickly attached tag 01 for 2018! Sturge2.jpg 542816EA-01C3-4C4F-912B-1DD2E2113941.jpeg
 
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Red Fish

Senior Member
#3
Thanks Ken.... it’s almost the END of the season as far as 2018 tags. I didn’t purchase a tag last year for the first time since they started charging for them. I haven’t burned a tag since the get together we had at the same locale where Brian, Hans, Surf-Samurai/Alex Poon/Kate and others were present. I had caught a keeper, shared some with the guy who helped me land it and Kate cleaned and smoked the rest for us to share at the Xmas sturgeon derby.

One thing: you have to have strong tides. I was in area 17 a week before with the sun shining and weak tides and only caught smelt and dink stripers for hours of effort. I will only go to area 17 for sturgeon as you can catch striper anywhere! And, yes, this was a pier catch for you viewers that read for information. So, that’s one for your book Ken. I will send you more pictures. ;)(y)
 
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Red Fish

Senior Member
#8
Nice, congrats on the dinos. For the uninitiated (i.e.: me) - what's "fork-length" and what's a "slot fish?"
Fork length: L) is the length of a fish measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the middle caudal fin rays and is used in fishes in which it is difficult to tell where the vertebral column ends.
Slot fish: where there is a minimum and maximum size for take. Helps with conservation of the species. In this case, 40” and 60” fork length measurement.
 
#11
-Headed out today about 3pm because the conditions looked right, rain.

-Left right before 3 hitting a little traffic and was fishing by 3:30. Fished about an hour and got a 52” inch, fork-length white sturgeon.

-One guy exclaims, “You’ve been here 30 minutes.”
I thought about Brian Linebarger as I baited up lamprey eel on a 9/0 diamond cut Owner (bought at Kmart $3/3hooks) and hurled an eight ounce pyramid into the depths. I remember when we fished there on a derby and he said, “ It’s already deep. You don’t have to cast far!”

-So, I casted out my trusty Penn 525 with 300 yards of 50# Power Pro and set my Shimano Trevala jig rod in the holder with a red bell on it. I just went on about cutting some bait, conversing with some other guys and setting up a shrimp trap. I mentioned to one familiar guy that “If you get a sturgeon, you can have sturgeon for Thanksgiving!” jokingly.

-Not too long after 3 or 4 guys say, “Hey your rod is bending over in the corner!” as I then hear it and hurry over. I picked it up, still pumping, and give a decent upward tug and feel tension. I crank down the 6:1 with HT-100 and pursue battle. A little slack is felt and the fish breaks the surface 40 yards out will a tail dance to shake the hook. I thought maybe she was successful but she wasn’t?

-A 20 minute battle followed and I left the star drag right where it was not adjusting an inch. I let the fish run out when it wanted and took in line when I could until it finally acquiesced!

-A slot fish at 52” which I quickly attached tag 01 for 2018! View attachment 323 View attachment 333
G
-Headed out today about 3pm because the conditions looked right, rain.

-Left right before 3 hitting a little traffic and was fishing by 3:30. Fished about an hour and got a 52” inch, fork-length white sturgeon.

-One guy exclaims, “You’ve been here 30 minutes.”
I thought about Brian Linebarger as I baited up lamprey eel on a 9/0 diamond cut Owner (bought at Kmart $3/3hooks) and hurled an eight ounce pyramid into the depths. I remember when we fished there on a derby and he said, “ It’s already deep. You don’t have to cast far!”

-So, I casted out my trusty Penn 525 with 300 yards of 50# Power Pro and set my Shimano Trevala jig rod in the holder with a red bell on it. I just went on about cutting some bait, conversing with some other guys and setting up a shrimp trap. I mentioned to one familiar guy that “If you get a sturgeon, you can have sturgeon for Thanksgiving!” jokingly.

-Not too long after 3 or 4 guys say, “Hey your rod is bending over in the corner!” as I then hear it and hurry over. I picked it up, still pumping, and give a decent upward tug and feel tension. I crank down the 6:1 with HT-100 and pursue battle. A little slack is felt and the fish breaks the surface 40 yards out will a tail dance to shake the hook. I thought maybe she was successful but she wasn’t?

-A 20 minute battle followed and I left the star drag right where it was not adjusting an inch. I let the fish run out when it wanted and took in line when I could until it finally acquiesced!

-A slot fish at 52” which I quickly attached tag 01 for 2018! View attachment 323 View attachment 333
Nice to see you hitting the Sturgeon so well lately there Red~!