Fined for fishing for Sturgeon

Two anglers fined $3K for catching endangered fish in closed season

It's costly to fish out of season, says the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Two anglers were fined $3,000 for catching lake sturgeon out of season on the Nottawasaga River.

Officers with the MNRF say they were tipped off about some social media posts from 2018 that showed the two men posing with their catch. Officers say they confirmed the pictures had been taken along the Nottawasaga River in an area where the sturgeon season was closed.

Last month, both anglers pleaded guilty in court to fishing for lake sturgeon during a closed season. They were each fined and received a one-year fishing suspension.

The MNRF says there is no open season to fish for sturgeon, even if you are catching and releasing, because the population is classified as endangered.

They say if you catch a lake sturgeon, or any threatened species of fish, you must immediately release it at the place of capture.

https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/two-anglers-fined...eason-1.4549955

I have heard of them in the great lakes but have never talked to anyone that has actually caught one. I would guess you would pretty much have to be fishing specifically for them to catch one.

Posing with your catch on social media during closed season = priceless

I know people who have struck sturgeon while float fishing for trout.

They are caught every couple years, last one was over 100 lbs around late 1980's.

When the season was open I'd target them every spring. Would usually get 2-3 a year. Man I miss those times. The wait was well worth the fight.

Agreed Rap....