What To Do if you Catch a Lake Sturgeon

LAKE STURGEON CANNOT BE HARVESTED AND MUST BE RELEASED UNHARMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

IF YOU CATCH A STURGEON IT SHOULD BE HANDLED GENTLY AND RELEASED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

• Sturgeon should not be kept on a stringer, kept in a live well or otherwise stressed in a manner that could cause it harm. 
• If a sturgeon is hooked deeply, cut the line as close as you can to the hook and release the sturgeon with the hook.

As part of the sturgeon reintroduction effort in the Coosa River system, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources would like to hear about any sturgeon sightings.  If you catch or otherwise see a lake sturgeon, please report the information to the office listed below.  Note the date and location of your sighting, photograph the fish if possible, and provide your name and telephone number so biologists can contact you about your sighting.

WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT SECTION
PO BOX 519, CALHOUN, GA 30703
(706) 624-1161