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Pallid Sturgeon Frequently Asked Questions How might the endangered status of the pallid sturgeon impact sport fishing?
What do I do if I catch a pallid sturgeon? Release it! The season is closed on all sturgeon species in South Dakota, so you must release, unharmed, any sturgeon caught. If you catch what you believe to be a pallid sturgeon, report it. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks' crews are tracking pallid sturgeon, and would be interested in locations.How many pallid sturgeon are there? It is difficult to be precise about the numbers of a fish that lives on the
bottom of muddy rivers! Where are pallid sturgeon found? Pallid sturgeon are a bottom-dwelling species that prefer turbulent, fast moving water. In South Dakota, th e only suitable habitat remaining are the riverine stretches below Fort Randall and Gavins Point Dam. Pallid sturgeon are not thought to reproduce in those stretches, but hatchery raised fish have been released, starting in 1997.There are probably some pallids in Lake Sharpe and Lake Oahe, but these are old adults that were trapped there at the time the dams were completed.
What can I do to help? Release any sturgeon that you catch immediately. There are not many pallids left, and every one is important to the population. For more complete fishing guidelines, see the South Dakota Fishing Handbook.Practice responsible fishing! Do not release baitfish into the water. Avoid spreading aquatic pests such as Eurasian watermilfoil, curlyleaf pondweed, purple loosestrife and zebra mussels by cleaning your boat and trailer thoroughly, draining you livewell and bilge before leaving the boat ramp area. You should also flush your livewell and cooling system with hot (140 ° F) water or allow the boat and trailer to dry for at least five days between bodies of water. Several businesses around the state offer the facilities and hot water to wash equipment. For a list of participating businesses, see the South Dakota Fishing Handbook, page 43.Be aware of legislation affecting conservation efforts. Contact your elected representatives at all government levels. References: Bailey, R.M. & F.B. Cross. 1954. River Sturgeon of the American genus Scaphirhynchus: characters, distribution and synonymy. Pp. 169-208. In G.E. Potter and W.R. Steinhoff, Eds. Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters. XXXIX.
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It
doesn't. There is no evidence of any sport fish eating sturgeon species. The
sturgeon's bony structure likely make it unpalatable for most species. Pallid
sturgeon evolved in an environment with a large assemblage of fishes, and
probably are good at evading potential predators.
However,
experts have developed from very rough estimates of how many wild-born (not
raised in a hatchery) pallids might be left. Rangewide, there are anywhere from
6,300 to 16,600 pallids remaining. On the Missouri River, there are somewhere
between 1,800 and 6,600 wild pallids left.%20(Custom).jpg)