Green Sturgeon

About the Green Sturgeon

The Green Sturgeon is a magnificent, ancient-looking fish, characterized by its elongated, torpedo-shaped body and a distinctive olive-green to bronze coloration on its back and sides, fading to a lighter belly. Five rows of bony scutes, sharpest in juveniles and smoother in adults, run along its body. Its flattened, shovel-like snout features four barbels positioned closer to the mouth than the tip, which help it detect prey. These features give it a prehistoric appearance.

Source: FishBase & iNaturalist

Habitat

These anadromous fish spend most of their lives in coastal marine waters and estuaries, often found in relatively shallow bays and nearshore areas. They undertake significant migrations into large freshwater rivers for spawning.

Distribution

Found across the northern Pacific Ocean, their range extends from the West Coast of North America, specifically from Baja California up through Alaska, and across to the coasts of China and Russia.

Behaviour

Green Sturgeon are opportunistic bottom feeders, using their sensitive barbels to locate a diet of crustaceans, mollusks, and small bottom-dwelling fish. They are known for their impressive annual spawning migrations, traveling hundreds of miles upstream from saltwater environments to specific freshwater spawning grounds. Unlike some sturgeon, they are primarily marine residents for most of their lives, only entering rivers for spawning or seasonal feeding.

Lure suggestion

Targeting Green Sturgeon effectively involves bottom fishing with heavy tackle suitable for large, powerful fish. Preferred baits include natural offerings such as ghost shrimp, pile worms, mud shrimp, and sometimes pieces of anchovy or sardine. Rigging typically involves a sliding sinker setup to allow the fish to take the bait without feeling resistance.