The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus
Sturgeon Size, Range & Diet
| Maximum | up to 20 ft and roughly 1,800 lb |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | up to 100 years |
| Range | West Coast rivers and estuaries from Alaska south to Monterey, California, with the main angling water in San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun bays, the Delta and the Sacramento and Columbia river systems. |
| Habitat | Deep channels, holes and strong-current sloughs in estuaries and lower rivers over sand and mud, from a few feet down to about 400 ft. |
| Diet | Roots the bottom for ghost and grass shrimp, clams, crabs, small fish and roe, which is why shrimp, lamprey and salmon eggs are the standard baits. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Sturgeon
- 5 rows of bony plates (scutes) running the length of the body
- Shark-like upturned (heterocercal) tail; no scales, leathery skin
- 4 barbels in a row ahead of a toothless, protrusible tube mouth underneath
- White sturgeon: barbels nearer the SNOUT TIP; ~38-48 lateral scutes; no scute behind the dorsal fin
- Green sturgeon: barbels nearer the MOUTH; ~23-30 lateral scutes; one large scute behind the dorsal fin
Tell it apart: Tell the two apart carefully: WHITE sturgeon barbels sit closer to the snout tip and there is NO scute behind the dorsal fin; GREEN sturgeon barbels sit closer to the mouth with a scute behind the dorsal fin and far fewer lateral scutes, and greens are a federally protected species.
How to Catch Sturgeon
Gear links open Amazon searches. As an Amazon Associate, The Fishing Report earns from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. Using these links helps keep the site ad-free.
- A winter fishery, peaking December through February on the high muddy tides — anchor and soak ghost shrimp or roe on a heavy sliding bottom rig.GearSturgeon sliding rigBarbless circle hooksHeavy sturgeon rod
- Best late fall into winter, November through January — anchor and soak smelt, sand shrimp, or roe on a heavy sliding bottom rig in deep holes.GearSturgeon sliding rigBarbless circle hooksHeavy sturgeon rod
When & Where Sturgeon Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern California Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Pacific Northwest Inshore |
Sturgeon Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.