Whoooo Hoooo !!!!! :-) :-) :-) 2025

Fish Chris reply :

Yea' buddies ! :-)

......so I had fished with a 7" Split Tail for Stripers for about 3 hours without a touch. Didn't even see too many big Sturgies jumping today either, or I would have switched over to them instead. Finally, I call a buddy, who is also on the water, on our cell phones, and ask him about a spot out in the Suisun Bay. He tells me he was just thinking about heading out there anyway, and did I want to follow him ? Sure ! Not only was the bay looking pretty flat, but if I'm ever going to take my little boat out there, its good to have a friend in another (slightly bigger) boat out there for back up / safety.

So we end up in some spot that really felt like "the middle of nowhere" ! I'm guessing the Suisun Bay is probably 75,000 acres, and we were a good 1000 feet offshore. So I just sit and watch my buddy for a bit, trying to decide between Stripers, or Sturgeon. Immediatly he catches a little dinky 12" Striper on his grass shrimp which he was throwing for Sturgeon. Freaking bait stealers ! Right away he catches a little 12" King Fish... another pesky little bait stealer !

That does it for me. No way am I going to feed these pesky little things my very expensive, and hard to come by Salmon Roe !

Stripers it is. I reach into my livewell and grab a little 7" Split Tail, and rig it on my micro-light.... and I mean, my lightest of micro-lights ! "Not" the 7ft bait casting micro-light I caught that 47 lb Sturgeon on a couple years ago, but rather, my 1 to 4 lb rated spinning micro-light.

I lob it out as best I can, with a 3/4 oz egg sinker to drag it down. My graph showed 21 feet.

I guess it was out there for about 10 minutes, when my Split Tail started really freaking out. All of the sudden it just stops, and my line starts to ease out. Huh ? For a second I thought the boat was just swinging or something, as Stripers sure don't hit like this. So as it gets tight, I go on and swing.... and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I mean this fish just felt like it had no intentions of stopping ! ....like it fully intended to just head for the ocean ! Now I've hooked a few big fish.... But this fish felt REALLY big ! So big, that without even waiting for things to get any crazier, I immediatly threw my anchor rope with the float buoy off of the boat, and out of my way, and got straight on the t-motor.

So now my buddy is asking, "Do you think its a really big fish ? ....or is it fighting like this just because of the crazy light gear ? I told him, "I think BOTH" !

Fifteen minutes into the battle, I was 95% sure that this "wasn't" my 40 plus Striper, both because of how it bit, and now because of the way it was fighting. But ever since I caught that 47 lb Sturgeon on the micro-light, I've said, "Just let me hook a bigger one, because I know I can land it" !

So here's my chance ! {then of course all the praying ! Lord please, please, please.... :-)}

Cut forward 45 minutes. The fish had kind of slowed down, and was really trying to just lay down on the bottom. I was starting to feather some additional pressure on my spool to ease it up, (didn't want to touch the drag, as if I hadn't broke it off by now, the drag must be set pretty good) but I could only get it up 2 or 3 ft... then ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ right back to the bottom.

At about 1 hour, it started to get kind of goofy, and purposely coming up off of the bottom, and cutting around like it was going to jump, but it never did. Instead, it let me get it right to the surface.... and holy @#$#@ ! It's not "just because of the gear" ! This is a BIG Sturgy !

But immediatly it peels back to the bottom and starts the bottom hugging routine again.

At approximately 1 hr and 45 min into the battle, I got it to the surface again, and of course it peeled right back to the bottom..... but this time, it felt just a little easier to get it back off of it. At 2 hours, I got it to the boat once more..... but my buddy in his boat, was on the wrong side of me.

So at this point, I envited him aboard. We knew my net was too small, but we were hoping that if we could get its head and shoulders in.... I mean, what else could we do ?

BTW, did I mention I was using a barbless hook ???

At 2 hours and 10 minutes, for the 4rth and final time, I get its head up, and my buddy scoops..... it shoots straight into the net, but only about the front 3rd of the fish would fit ! (and to think Cabelas calls this its "big fish" model ! Yea right") .....and then it flips right back out ! But it really didn't run anywhere before my buddy scoops again.... two for two.... but it flips out again ! All I could do was keep my line tight in case it ran off again. So he scoops once more.... This time, it's tail kicks away, then back at our faces, and at that split second, my buddy pulls straight back on the net handle, while I'm jumping for its tail. Basically, my buddy, myself, and the Sturgeon all fall to the floor of my boat !

......and only then, do I cut loose with the victory scream !!!! :-)

Now up until last year, the size limit was 46" to 72". Then for a while, it went to very narrow slot of 46" to 56". More recently, it went back up to 46" to 66", but only 3 fish per year with tag system, like for deer, instead of 1 per day. But the fact of the matter is, I'd have released this fish no matter what size it was. I just think these fish are too valuable as sportfish, and take too long to grow, to be killing them indiscimanently. Nothing wrong with keeping 1 small 46" to 52" Sturgy a year for food. They are great eating.

Oh.... so anyway, it ended up going 71 inches, and aprox 90 lbs.

My new any species, micro-light PB :-)

And BTW, 2 hrs and 10 min is my personal record for battling a fish as well.

So there it is.... 1000 words... AND a picture :-)

You can't tell I'm still pretty stoked, can you ? ;-)

Great fishing to you guys,

Fish

PS, One of my buddies just told me yesterday, "Dude, your going to be out there screwing around with that dinky little micro-light, and that's when your going to hook your 40 lb Striper......." Well ya' know what ? After landing this 90 lb Sturgy on the same gear, I've only got one thing to say...... "Bring it on baby ! Bring it on" !!! :-)

Jimzee reply :

I have no words!!! You are the man!!!

FivePoundBluegill reply :

simply amazing....

FivePoundBluegill reply :

Hey Fish Chris. I think this catch would probably get a line class record. You should see what the line class record is for a sturgeon on the line you were useing. I bet you just set a new one. You should submit the catch....

NEBassMan reply :

absolutely awe-struck!!! :o :o :o

Congratulations Fish Chris, and great wishes for many more successful battles with those big'uns!!!!

Jason

senko_77 reply :

......WOW I'm at a loss for words.

Congrats Fish

Fish Chris reply :

Thank you guys. Hey Five pound, unfortunately, for two big reasons, line class records are pretty much out of the question. Here's why;

First off, I was using a micro-braided line. 2 lb test diameter, but 10 lb test. Now, guys who normally use 10 lb mono might not consider 10 lb test to be micro-light, however, considering that micro-braid has zero stretch, I feel comfortable putting about as much pressure on a fish during a fight, as I would with say, 6 lb test mono. This is also why it is perfectly suited to a very soft, whippy rod, rated for 1 to 4 or 2 to 6 lb test. So for all of the above reasons, I call this micro-light line...... but the way that the IGFA sees it, in a lab, under ideal conditions (which are anything but "real world) this is 10 lb test.... which really shoots this catch, or others caught on micro-braid, into a completely different category.

As I've said for a long time, the only way for the IGFA to be fair about it, would be to write a completely seperate book for braided line, which of course won't ever happen.

Secondly, the current max size for Sturgeon is only 66", so there is no way to certify a fish as an IGFA record, and release it "immediatly" too.

Either way, like I always say, the only guy I'm really out to do better than, is "Fish Chris" anyway :-)

Peace,

Fish

kiss my bass reply :

These are the Chronicles of Fish Chris! ;D You are the man Buddy! As good of a story that this is......It still isn't top 5 in your lifetime! 8-) Reminds me of the good old days!

Bring it on....made me LOL!

Kiss my bass aka Josh D

T-rig reply :

Awesome fish! 8-)

ZombyGuru reply :

Thats is a behemoth, i would have been waving the crane in!!

roadwarrior reply :

Dude!

You da MAN!

8-)

Lightninrod reply :

Lawdhavemercy!!!! Words simply fail me..... We are not worthy, we are not worthy.... 8-)

That's one of the finest fishing stories I've ever read and it's written by one of the finest fisherman I know of too .

Dan

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
Lawdhavemercy!!!! Words simply fail me..... We are not worthy, we are not worthy.... 8-)
That's one of the finest fishing stories I've ever read and it's written by one of the finest fisherman I know of too .

Dan

+1 ;D ;D ;D

Fish Chris reply :

Ahhh geeez guys. You better stop, before my head gets bigger than that Sturgeon :-) Any of you could do it to. All you do is just hook them, and hang on until the fish gets tired. And if you fish a lot, in places that have fish like this, it's just a matter of time before it happens.

Thank you though,

Fish

PS, I know a lot of you don't have Sturgeon..... but many of you DO have Alligator Gars, Blue Cats, Flatheads, Muskies, etc. Of course I'm not suggesting that any of you ever leave our beloved Green and Brown Bass behind..... but in the downtime for those, and just to mix things up, I'd suggest you guys go chase some of the other monsters, in your neck of the woods ! :-)

Davis reply :

Amazing.........

We have sturgeon up here in Erie but there very very rare.

Muskie up in Chautaqua Lake though......

Definately giving me something to think about with that catch of yours. Just amazing.......

.ghoti. reply :

Awesome fish, and an awesome story. You, sir are an inspiration to the rest of us mere mortals.

I've never caught a sturgeon. Would love to give it a shot. I will, too. I'll be retiring in a few years, and the plan is to travel a lot, and catch as many species of fish as I can, in as many different places as I can.

Chris made an excellent point. All of us live in range of some "other" fish, some of which grow to incredible size. We need to take some time and go after some of them.

It's almost time to get after the muskies in my area. I can't wait.

Cheers,

Redlinerobert reply :

Just incredible. Good job Chris!

Olebiker reply :

We've been having a problem down here in Florida with sturgeon jumping out of the water and hitting boaters. I can't imagine the mayhem if that big boy tried it.

deepsessions reply :

90lb sturgie on micro light gear....that'll be a story you'll be tellin' for years. nice dinosaur man! I can see it now....you in the Columbia River chaising a 500lb'er with that noodle rod. respect!

nboucher reply :

Phenomenal, Chris. Yes, you are indeed an inspiration to all of us, and a darn good storyteller. Your posts are always a must-read.

Fishing with microlight tackle intrigues me. Could you please say a bit more about your technique for landing such a behemoth with such light line?

Thanks again for taking the time to write up your adventure.

guest reply :

Quote
Ahhh geeez guys. You better stop, before my head gets bigger than that Sturgeon

I was going to express to my amazement and awe...............

but out of respect for your wishes,

I won't

Fish Chris reply :

as a matter of fact, their have been two serious injuries caused by jetskiers hitting Sturgeon, in the last two years, in our area ! I believe in the second incident, the guy almost died, and was in critical condition for quite a while ! Yikes !

Plus, I know of a friend of a friend, who had one come over the bow of his tri-hull fish and ski, at about 45 mph... about a 60 lb'er, which first smashed through his windshield, then, as he shot his arm up in front of his face to protect himself, it broke his forearm, and threw him completly down the length of his boat, and smashed him against the inside of the transome ! Had it knocked him out of the boat... by himself... in the middle of the bay... with a broken arm... "AND NO LIFE JACKET" he'd have been a goner !

I always wear my PFD, and I also keep my eyes peeled.... mostly for debris in the water, or other boats, but flying Sturgeon are something I do think about often !

Fish

Fish Chris reply :

I've actually written a whole article, with several photos, on just the subject your asking about.... but Glenn doesn't really like us to send vistors off to other sites, without return links, so out of respect....

On the other hand, if Glenn wants to use that article here on Ultimate Bass, of course he is totally welcome. I think its one of my "funnest" articles :-)

Anyway, in a nut-shell, you just hook em' and hang on until they get tired :-)

Peace,

Fish

bpm2000 reply :

nice.. very nice! ;D

Mrs. Matstone reply :

Awesome story and great fish. Now that is something to be proud of. Congratulations.

Jake. reply :

Amazing.

Troutfisher reply :

Absolutely spectacular! 8-)

Tokyo Tony reply :

Well I guess there's always a price to pay for such good fishing, whether it's coming home to a nagging wife, or gigantic deadly sturgeon flying at your face when you're on the water ;D

Seriously though, great story Fish Chris. Those fish look really cool.

basspro48 reply :

WOW ...Now that is bringin the big sicknasty (sorry guys, just a little baseball lingo :)

Amazing fish, and awesome story!!!

JayW reply :

Great pic and congrats on the Sturgeon!

preach4bass reply :

That fish might not have set an "official" record, but I believe it set a BR record. It might have been the first picture that Chris posted where he's not sitting down with that "I just caught a double digit bass!!!" smile on his face. ;D It's crazy when you have to stand up to get the whole fish in the picture!

huck reply :

Wow! I dont know what else to say....

Vyron reply :

very nice fish , congrats

Siebert Outdoors reply :

Yowsers. That thing is freaking huge. Awsome

tritz18 reply :

I'm speechless, as I read this I was standing and I had to sit down halfway through it so intense

MALTESE FALCON reply :

Great story and fish.

Makes me feel like a punk. My one-and-only sturgeon was thirty-five pounds. It was caught on the St. Clair River while fishing for walleye. I was using a 7' med spinning rod with 10# Trilene XL.

Congratulations,

Falcon

1654

Whoooo Hoooo !!!!! :-) :-) :-) 2025

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