Atlantic Sturgeon

About the Atlantic Sturgeon

A truly ancient fish, the Atlantic Sturgeon is recognizable by its torpedo-shaped body armored with five rows of prominent bony plates, or scutes, instead of scales. Its long, pointed snout features four sensitive barbels used for foraging, preceding a distinctive ventral mouth. Adults typically display a dark olive to bluish-brown back, fading to lighter sides and a white belly, and can grow to impressive sizes, often exceeding 10 feet and weighing hundreds of pounds.

Source: FishBase & iNaturalist

Habitat

Atlantic Sturgeon are anadromous, meaning they spend the majority of their lives in rich coastal marine waters and brackish estuaries. They undertake significant migrations into large freshwater rivers to spawn, favoring deeper channels and areas with moderate currents.

Distribution

Their historical range spanned the entire Atlantic coast of North America, from Labrador in Canada down to the St. Johns River in Florida. While their populations are greatly reduced, they can still be found in many of these coastal and riverine systems.

Behaviour

These impressive bottom feeders use their sensitive barbels to locate a varied diet of benthic organisms, including mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and small bottom fish. Adults are highly migratory, moving between their ocean feeding grounds and freshwater spawning rivers in spring and early summer. Juveniles spend several formative years in freshwater and estuarine nursery areas before venturing out to sea.

Lure suggestion

Anglers do not target Atlantic Sturgeon as they are a federally protected and critically endangered species. However, they may occasionally be caught incidentally on bottom-fished natural baits like cut fish, clams, or worms, often intended for species such as catfish or striped bass. If you accidentally hook an Atlantic Sturgeon, it is crucial to release it immediately and with the utmost care, minimizing handling to ensure its survival.