A Beginner’s Guide to Sturgeon Fishing: Catch & Release Tips

Sturgeon have swum in rivers and lakes for more than 175 million years. They’ve outlived ice ages and extinctions, but now face an increasing threat from humans. Fishing for one of these behemoths is an angler’s dream, one of the most exciting freshwater experiences. But sturgeon fishing is a serious conservation challenge. In most fisheries, fishing is now catch and release only, and knowing how to handle these fish is often life or death.

This blog will provide the essentials for the novice angler, from the equipment and methods of catching to the proper handling techniques that will ensure sturgeon are around for generations to come.

The Need for Catch and Release Sturgeon Fishing

Sturgeon have an incredibly slow reproductive rate for game fish. White sturgeon may not start to reproduce until around 25 years old, and females spawn every two to eight years thereafter. This fact means that every adult fish has tremendous potential to reproduce. Every dead breeding female could be decades of lost growth.

The conservation math explains why regulations keep tightening. California now operates a catch-and-release white sturgeon fishery with no retention in state waters. Oregon and Washington have moved their Columbia River retention seasons because quotas were filled in a matter of days. Michigan recently proposed a new catch-and-release season for the Menominee River from June 2026 until March 2027. The message is clear. Retention seasons are becoming shorter while catch-and-release seasons are getting longer. So, catch-and-release skills are becoming essential for sturgeon anglers.

What You Need to Catch Sturgeon

Sturgeon are strong freshwater fish that require heavier tackle. Begin with a 7 to 8 foot heavy action or medium-heavy action rod, and a large baitcasting reel. Many sturgeon anglers use fiberglass or fiberglass-graphite composite rods that offer both backbone and tip sensitivity. This is important because, for their size, sturgeon bite relatively delicately.

Use 65-100 pound braided line on your reel, followed by a 18-24 inch fluorocarbon or heavy monofilament leader. The leader absorbs some of the shock of the fight. For terminal rigging, use circle hooks between the 5/0 and 10/0 sizes to avoid deep hooking and improve release rates. A sliding sinker rig with barrel swivel allows the bait to stay on the bottom, but allows the fish to take it without resistance. The weight of the sinker is dictated by the strength of the current, so have weights anywhere between 4 and 26 ounces. So, having a tackle box that covers all bases is important.

Sturgeon Bait and Strategies

Sturgeon search primarily by scent. They have poor vision, so lures with flash won’t be effective. The most critical factor in catching sturgeon is fresh, odiferous bait. Common baits include salmon roe, lamprey, sand shrimp, smelt, sardines, shad, squid, nightcrawlers and pile worms. The key word is “fresh”. Fish are attracted to bait by its blood, guts, or slime coating. Double the frequency of bait changes you would normally make.

The usual method is bottom fishing. Fish in deep holes, pools, shelves, or places with slow to moderate current and a silty bottom. Hold your rod tip up current to prevent the bait from drifting. When a sturgeon takes your bait you will feel a series of taps or a gentle pull, rather than a strike. It’s important to avoid a soft hookset. Only set the hook once the fish has made a firm pull, then lift the rod and pull in the line. Circle hooks will find their way into the corner of the fish’s mouth, so there’s no need to hookset.

After 45 minutes without bites, change locations. Sturgeon follow bottom trails and there’s no sense hanging out in a bad spot. Also, there are seasonal considerations. The best time to fish is spring and fall, when water temperatures are between 50 and 65 degrees.

How to Release Sturgeon

Handling is where novice anglers go wrong. The four most important factors in post-release mortality are hooking location, fight time, time out of water and water temperature. Here’s how to avoid damaging the fish.

First, use tackle of sufficient size to land fish quickly. Long fights lead to exhaustion, and a buildup of lactic acid. Prolonged fight times due to inadequate tackle are more likely to cause delayed death.

Second, never lift a sturgeon out of the water. Keep the fish in the water to remove the hook, measure and take pictures. In California, it is illegal to lift any white sturgeon greater than 60 inches out of the water. Even without a specific regulation, the best way to increase survival is to keep the fish wet. Be ready with your camera before you haul the fish into the boat.

Third, don’t touch the gills and don’t use a tail loop or grabbing device that could harm the fish if it thrashes. Dampen your hands. If the sturgeon is exhausted, go to the bottom of the river and keep its mouth open and head facing upstream so water will flow over its gills. Do not release until it swims away. Likewise, if you catch a tagged sturgeon, do not remove the tag and report the tag number to your state fish and wildlife agency.

Sturgeon Fishing Regulations by State

State fishing regulations vary greatly between states, regions and seasons. In some cases, catch and release is permitted year-round, whereas in other cases, fishing for sturgeon is limited to a small window of opportunity. California mandates a Sturgeon Report Card (free for the 2025-2026 season) that must be filled out regardless of whether sturgeon are caught. Washington requires a Catch Record Card and bans all fishing, including catch and release, once the angler’s annual limit has been reached. In many states, anglers need to obtain a special license, endorsement or tag in addition to a fishing license.

Emergency rule changes can change the regulations mid-season, so be sure to check your state’s fish and wildlife website for the latest information. It is essential. Oregon and Washington share Columbia River sturgeon management through a Compact process, so regulations can change quickly based on quota decisions. Don’t rely on last year’s regulations. So, it is important to develop the habit of checking regulations every week during the sturgeon season for your own safety and the resource.

Book Your First Sturgeon Fishing Adventure

Angling for sturgeon is about patience, preparation and appreciation for the fishery. It takes a little time to understand the techniques but the thrill of catching a fish that was alive before the time of the dinosaurs is unmatched in fresh water fishing.

If you want to fast-track your understanding and enjoy top-notch sturgeon fishing with a guide, contact Hooke’em Up Guide Service. Their captains are experts in the water, with the fish and the know-how to safely and responsibly land beginners on trophy-sized sturgeon. Contact one of their captains today and make a fishing memory you’ll never forget.