Sturgeon Lengths ?

[Lucky1]

I have a question that has amazed me for many years that will posibly be resolved here. When I have caught keeper sized sturgeon, like the 52" caught last week in the channel. Question is: What causes the lenght to shrink up to an inch after being out of the water for a short time? I also have noticed that lenght can grow up to an inch also! My thoughts revolve around the fish being tensed up or more in a relaxed state to create the difference in variations. I am measuring the same way in all occasions. We hooked up on many fish this last weekend in the channel again. One keeper at 44", after bleeding and the trip home it measured at about 43"?

[ANDYCOHO]

That's a little scary...that is if you tag a 42 incher.

I have never had that experience with sturgeon?

[Lwagg2]

I caught a 44 last year when odfw remeasured at the doc it was just shy of 43, when i caught a 42 1/4 on friday we measured it again 5 mins later and it 42 and 3 mins later it shrack to 41 so i released it muscles ? maybe but you would think they would relax after you slice them gills, what ever reason I decided my boat never keeps anything under 44 better safe than sorry though myself would prefer to not keep anything under 48.

[jokester]

My policy is...if you think it'll be questionable, release it! Mr. Gamie is not gonna care how long it was when you caught it, he's gonna want to measure it at the dock! We've caught 2 that would have been keeper sized, but were around 42 and 42 1/2...that's not long enough for me to chance it!!

-jokester

[fishuntr2]

I have seen this "sturgeon shrinkage". That is why I won't let anyone in my boat keep anything less than 43. Besides the little fishies just don't have enough meat on their cartilage.

[greenbuttskunk]

my theory is also that they can tense up and create a fluctuation in length. There is also a degree of dehydration that they can go through and this can shorten the length of the fish, many species for that matter. I too would be careful and release a fish that is just balls on the 42" mark. Toss it back if you have any doubt. There are bigger ones out there.
GBS

[Mojo]

Cold water? :grin:

[Pete]

I hear a doctoral thesis in the making, "Effects of Notocord Contraction on Dimension in Acipenser Transmontanus".

[jokester]

Cold water? :grin:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Hey Mojo....you might be onto something there! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

-jokester

[Land Shark]

Really Officer, I swear it was 42 1/4 inches when I measured it an hour ago! :shocked:

[DownTime]

Hey Pete,maybe STG Rule can help you with your thesis,after all she has a cool crown!

JB

[Lucky1]

Thanks to all that responded. I guess we still go on the asumption that its COLD WATER!!
Thanks for the input.
Land Shark...that is a pretty nice shaker you have there. :smile:

[Oncorhynchus]

Anyone consider user error in measureing, its kind of difficult to precisely measure a sturgeon the same exact way each time. Remember we're only talking about 1/2 - 1" difference. Just a thought!!!

[Lucky1]

I am with the majority as far as keeping one that may be questionable. I was asking as to the nature of shrinkage.

[Beefcake]

I'm not sure about them shrinking, but I saw one grow rapidly a couple of months ago. I was fishing near St Helens, and a guy putted over in his little hunting boat to ask if he could borrow my ruler. When he laid the fish next to the ruler it was about 41", so he proceeded to pick it up by its tail for a hanging measurement and tagged it at 43". I gave him a little "what for", but he had a shotgun on the seat next to him so I dropped the issue.

[Owner]

Land Shark,
I have never seen such a tiny sturg. Where and how did you get that?
SOB