A Chilliwack, B.C., fishing guide group recently shared the news of an impressive catch in the Fraser River that it says marks a milestone for the company. A tourist from St. Louis, Mo., reeled in a “staggering” sturgeon that weighed about 1,200 pounds and was more than 10 feet long, according to Sturgeon Slayers. The fish had a 60-inch pectoral girth and “whopping’ 70-inch belly girth. The company believes it may be the largest freshwater fish landed by a female angler, who caught the ancient species after a 40-minute fight. “You’re kind of stunned to be honest with you, because these types of fish, for people that don’t understand fishing, are so elusive, right? They are so elusive to get,” Sturgeon Slayers owner and guide Kevin Estrada told CTV News. “You can have somebody guide for 30 years and never, never see a fish over ten feet fork length.” He said the massive catch was made in June, but didn’t publicize it right away because just one week earlier, someone caught what Estrada believes beat the world record for the largest white sturgeon captured with a rod and reel—a story that made international headlines. Both fish were tagged and released so researchers can continue to study the sturgeon population as part of ongoing conservation efforts.
