Here's information provided by the East Bay Regional Parks District:
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA -- A sturgeon caught November 26, 2012 in Livermore has surpassed all records for fish caught at Lake Del Valle since its inception in 1968.
Gary Howard of Livermore landed the sturgeon at Del Valle Regional Recreation Area while fishing with anchovies in the park’s Tarantula Cove. The sturgeon, which was caught and released, was over 6’ long, and weighed over 100 lbs.
According to East Bay Regional Park District Fisheries Program Manager Pete Alexander, it’s not only the biggest recorded sturgeon caught at Del Valle, but by far the largest of all the ten species of sport fish ever caught at the lake. A 25 lb. sturgeon (2006) and a 40 lb striped bass (1989) previously held those records, respectively.
Although Del Valle hosts a diverse fishery – according to Alexander the most diverse of any Bay Area lake or reservoir – it’s not exactly renowned for sturgeon. Alexander estimates only a few sturgeon lurk in the lake. The fish caught on Monday could have been pumped in from the Delta as a small fish, or it could be one of three sturgeon obtained by thePark District in January of 2003 from the San Francisco Sport and Boat Showfish exhibit. Those fish measured approximately 30” each at the time they were planted in Del Valle.
According to state regulations, sturgeon must be between 44” and 66” total length, to be kept. This slot limit is designed to keep large breeding adults in the population. Sturgeon that are either smaller or larger, must be released.
Anglers at Del Valle target ten kinds of sport fish including rainbow trout, salmon, bluegill, channel catfish, redear sunfish, black crappie, sturgeon, striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass. The District plants trout and catfish at the lake, largelyfunded by the District’s Fishing Access Permit program. The California Department of Fish & Game also plants trout, as well as inland Chinook salmon, and Kokanee fingerlings.
The East Bay Regional Park District offers 11 lakes and reservoirs and over 25 miles of Bay/Delta shoreline and piers for fishing in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The fish planting schedule, fishing reports, and permit information are available online at www.ebparks.org/anglersedge.
I just seen this post and read some of the comments on the discrepency of the weight of that fish. My partners and I have caught UNCOUNTABLE Sturgeon. The biggest one landed was 75" and 110 pounds. It took two of us to hold it up. Just for a pic.As to not injure the fish. It is my experience that for every inch over 41/2 feet the fish is usually that much in weight. The biggest keeper I personally have caught was 65 & 7/8. It weighed 70 lbs. and it was FAT...That fish looks to me to be about 75 to 85 lbs MAX. But still a GREAT CATCH!!! What I didn't see posted was what kind of tackle was used and how long was the fight. That's what I'd like to know
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As far as the comment about crappie, i found that in Feb was the best months to fish them, with a crappie jig under a weighted bobber. The leader was about 3 feet long, and the was a breeze blowing the bobber along slowly which induced the bite. However, they move around alot....and when youfind them they are usually schooled in large groups. I caught and released well over 20, most were in the 1.5 lbs range with some bigger and smaller. The biggest concern was the a good portion of them had a disease attacking thier slime coat.
I doubt the fish was actually weighed or measured and we are presented with estimates and opinions on both sides of this issue. My opinion, based on the photo and the reported information ... is that Gary Howard is about six foot five and weights 280 lbs. And he does a very credible job of holding a hundred pounds dead weight at chin heights.
"The Sturgeon Surgeon"............caviar, anyone?!
Judging by the photo [enlarged] and comparing the fish to 6 foot 5 inch, 280 lb. Gary, I'd say that fish weighs a good 100 lbs.
http://www.norcalfishingnews.com/stories/record_sturgeon_catch_recounted_?id=791
http://www.norcalfishingnews.com/stories/45_pound_sturgeon_caught_at_lake_chabot?id=945