‘Incredibly rare’ prehistoric fish shocks angler as he reels it in from Kansas R

[Bob Riebe]

An angler recently reeled in an “incredibly rare” and prehistoric fish while fishing in Kansas, according to state wildlife officials. Kevin Zirjacks was casting his line in the Kansas River when he hooked something few sportsmen ever see in Kansas, and that even fewer have captured. “I knew I had a special fish once I landed (it),” Zirjacks said in a social media post by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. After catching the large fish, he reached out to the department to confirm its identity. It was a sturgeon, officials told him. Specifically, a lake sturgeon. “Prior to this capture, our KDWP survey biologists have only recorded 15 other Lake Sturgeon captures over the last 25+ years,” the department said.

It’s not clear just how many lake sturgeon reside in Kansas’ waterways, but in neighboring Missouri, they’re considered endangered. As a species, sturgeon are one of the oldest still swimming. Having first emerged over 120 million years ago, they lived alongside dinosaurs and survived the catastrophic hurdles and curveballs that those larger beings couldn’t. In some ways, sturgeon are dinosaurs themselves, with the armor plates lining their long, sleek bodies speaking to that heritage.

Sturgeon outlived the triceratops, and with a lifespan of 80 years — or much, much longer by some estimates— there’s a good chance they’ll outlive you too. “Never thought I would ever see one of these dinosaurs, let alone be able to actually hold one,” Zirjacks said. “Definitely a catch I will remember for the rest of my life!” Lucky for the sturgeon, Zirjacks wasn’t looking for a trophy. After snapping a few pictures, he released the fish back to its river, he said.

[Lloyd Smale]

we have them in the great lakes. Never ate it but they claim its real good eating.

[Drilling Man]

  I've had them, don't care much for them either...

  DM

[Ranger99]

from what i understand, there used to be
a good many around here in all these rivers.
in the old days when people could hang nets
and fish traps and had big weirs in a bunch
of rivers, they would catch wagon loads of
them and ice them down in barrels to put
on the train to ship to big city hotels and
restaurants

[Lloyd Smale]

old timers up here used to get them spear fishing on the ice. Wasnt legal then either but they were feeding there family and dnr officers were few and far between. M134 would know the waters im talking about right in his cedarville area.

[ironglow]

   ....Has to be very rare in Kansas, since it usually only found in the Laurentian and Hudson Bay watersheds in
   the US.  I don't fish much at all, but some fishermen pull them from the Great Lakes.

      Then too...  https://caviarstar.com/american-hackleback-sturgeon-caviar/*-     ..Hey, you can get 2 oz for $60

   In the Great Lakes, Sturgeon can grow  to 6.5 feet and 200 pounds.

[Dee]

 "Having first emerged 120 million years ago". 

I wonder who decided that?

[ironglow]

"Having first emerged 120 million years ago". 

I wonder who decided that?

   ..Probably the same folks who decided we are in a "climate change", unlike ever seen in the last 120 million years..

[Lloyd Smale]

dont cha no day done lernt that in colage.

"Having first emerged 120 million years ago". 

I wonder who decided that?

[gypsyman]

Protected species here on Lake Erie. Catch and release only. Known for their eggs, caviar. Not sure why their eggs are so special, cooked and ate walleye and perch eggs, tasted pretty good, scrambled a couple chicken eggs, mixed them up, fried them up in some butter. Guess the sturgeon eggs are eaten raw? To each his own.

[darkgael]

More about sturgeon…if you are interested.
Pacific sturgeon. https://www.cityofvancouver.us/publicworks/page/learn-about-sturgeon

Atlantic sturgeon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_sturgeon


Saltwater version….sturgeon are anadromous…live in salt water but return to freshwater to spawn, similar to salmon. They do not die after spawning but return to the ocean.

[nw_hunter]

The Columbia river and it's tributaries in Oregon has some huge White Sturgeon.
The Umpqua river near me in SW Oregon has some in the lower river. Both Green & White Sturgeon.

Sturgeon have no bones, and the meat is white, with a different texture than most fish. I love it fresh or smoked.

[Buckskin]

Heck of a fun fish to catch and spear also one of the best smoked fish there is.  That one in the pic is a baby....  This is the last one I speared, decent sized at 65# male, but they get quite a few over 100# and I think the biggest speared out of Winnebago was 212#. The whites can get over half a ton.

[Lloyd Smale]

big spot for them up here in the UP is around cedarville on the eastern end one the shores of huron.