Every fisherman, of course, wants to catch a good sturgeon. But because of poachers, all types of sturgeon fishes are included in the Red Book as rare specimens. Nowadays, sturgeon cannot be caught without a special license or advance payment for fishing spots. The ban on fishing for this species of fish is established by Rybnadzor and is enshrined in Russian laws. Of course, not everyone can afford sturgeon fishing, but it is worth noting that it is worth it. The process of laying eggs takes place in May-June. During this period, sturgeon fishing is strictly prohibited.
A bit about sturgeon
Sturgeon fish appeared in the Jurassic period. Her habitat at that time was the whole world. It could be found in abundance in the oceans, seas and full-flowing rivers, which means that the use of sturgeon as food began from the time of the caveman.
Sturgeon is a fairly large fish, reaching three meters in length. Most often, fishermen catch sturgeon, which weighs about 20 kg.
Fish actually has no bones. Her body is covered with spikes and a bone scaly shell, the vertebra has a cartilaginous structure.
Sturgeon family fish has a very delicate and pleasant smell. Experienced cooks know how to cook sturgeon in order to preserve the amazing aroma of sturgeon meat. In many cuisines of the world, sturgeon is the main dish of the festive table. Only carapace is not used in food, everything else (head, tail, fins) can be used in cooking. Professional chefs know the screech - the dried spine of a fish, from which our ancestors prepared amazing dishes. Steaks, barbecue, meatballs, chops - all these dishes can be prepared from king fish. Dishes from it are amazingly delicious. Cartilage is used on broth and aspic; on the ear - heads.
All types of sturgeon feed on crustaceans, mollusks, fish juveniles, worms, do not disdain to eat other fish’s eggs.
Sturgeon cannot be confused with any other fish. His body is long, spindle-shaped, covered with rows of bone growth bugs. The stigma has an elongated conical shape, lips bordered and fleshy, there is a pair of mustaches.
Today, 19 species of sturgeon fish are registered in the world, 11 of which live in Russia. Different types of sturgeons are distinguished by the proportions of their bodies, but the main signs remain unchanged.
Sturgeon habitat
Over the years, hydraulic structures disrupted the natural course of fish migration, so the sturgeon moved from its usual river waters to other places.
- The basic in the European part is the widespread Russian species of sturgeon. Its main habitat is the basins of the Caspian Sea, the Black and Azov Seas. The weight of this fish on average varies from 15 to 30 kg, although larger fish were also recorded.
- The stellar sturgeon settled downstream. Its habitat is the rivers flowing into the Black and Azov Seas, as well as the basin of the Caspian Sea. The average weight of this fish here ranges from 7 to 12 kg.
- Types of sturgeons, photos of which can be seen in the pictures, businessmen are bred in artificial lakes and ponds. One of the sturgeon representatives is sterlet. This is the only species that is allowed for amateur fishing.
- Adult European sturgeon live in European and Siberian rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean. Their weight is from 2 to 3 kg, and is long from 40 to 60 cm.
- Amur sturgeon lives in the Far Eastern regions and the Amur basin. Its weight is from 6 to 8 kg. Shooting and amateur fishing of this fish is allowed.
Sturgeon benefits
Sturgeon family fish is very beneficial for people who suffer from high cholesterol. Due to fatty acids, cholesterol is broken down and eliminated from the body. In general, sturgeon meat fills the human body with potassium and phosphorus, which perfectly affect the brain and the cardiovascular system. The sturgeon has a sufficient amount of essential amino acids and proteins that are perfectly absorbed, so sturgeon is not only a delicacy, but also a nutritious product.
Energy value of sturgeon in kilocalories
So, what is the nutritional value of 100 g of this fish?
• Proteins - 16.4 kcal.
• Carbohydrates - 0.0 kcal.
• Fats - 10.9 kcal.
• Calorie content - 163.7 kcal.
Contraindications and harm to sturgeon
It's no secret that some species of sturgeon are edible only 86%. The fact is that they accumulate toxic substances in their tissues, therefore it is not safe to consume sturgeon, which was caught by environmental standards in dirty places. Such a fish can become poison. Cases of mass poisoning were even recorded. If you have doubts about the cleanliness of the sturgeon habitat, then it is better not to give this fish to children and the elderly. Also, do not abuse sturgeon for patients suffering from diabetes and obesity. It is contraindicated to eat sturgeon as food for those who have an individual intolerance to the meat of this fish or similar allergic reactions.
Knowledge needed when fishing for sturgeon
- When hunting for sturgeon, there is no particular fishing tactic. All types of sturgeon fish, the list of which consists of sturgeon, spike, beluga, stellate sturgeon and sterlet, as a rule, love the depth. It is there that you can meet them.
- It is important to look for this fish actively, not to stale. She has no enemies, so she is not shy.
- Punching the sturgeon shell with a low-power weapon is a rather difficult task, so you do not need to use multi-tooth when fishing.
- It’s too early to rejoice with an exact hit in the fish - this does not mean a complete victory over the sturgeon. It still needs to be neutralized. If it fails, then it is better to cut the tench. Deaths were recorded when a fisherman simply simply got entangled in a line. All types of sturgeon fish (in the pictures located above, for example, the first and second, you can notice that these fish are quite strong). Be careful when fishing to avoid all sorts of troubles.
Fishing law
In 2012, the Federal Law of the Fisheries Agency transferred all its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture. They established the rules of amateur and commercial fishing. The rules specifically write about each region, pool and pond where you can fish.
There is only one conclusion - carefully familiarize yourself with all the fishing rules that spell out all types of sturgeon fish in Russia. There are many nuances, so you need to weigh your capabilities and evaluate the legal consequences that a “secret” meeting with a sturgeon may entail.
Bait
It is not difficult to guess which bait is ideal for sturgeon, because we already know its taste preferences. It feeds on various mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and fry. So that the bait does not fly off, it must be tied with a thread to the hook.
Sturgeon focuses solely on smell, so the bait should be as aromatic as possible. If the bait is of vegetable origin, it can be seasoned with vegetable or anise oil. Bait of animal origin should be rubbed with garlic or onions. The most winning option will be sturgeon fishing on bait from the same reservoir as the fish itself.
Fishing sturgeon is difficult enough. This fish is very strong and fast, and its bite is sharp. Be careful: you will need unprecedented concentration and perseverance - in no case can you sharply release the fishing line. Extinguish strong jerks with a coil brake.
What you need for hunting
- Strong fishing rod from 4 to 6 m.
- Ceramic or aluminum sturdy rings.
- Coil.
- Long, braided and durable fishing line (40-45 m, withstanding 40 Ibs).
- The eighth size hook.
- Sinker (to hold in any course).
- Leash from 50 to 90 cm with two swivels.
In winter, a plus to all of the above is also added a fishing rod equipped with a nod and a float.
But there is a small catch. Sturgeon does not like very thick fishing lines on leashes, as the roe of fry on this fishing line becomes lethargic. Of course, you can put a thick fishing line, but this will entail the establishment of large hooks and pushing a larger bait. This is where the main secret lies. The sturgeon will not bite on a large bait - he loves measure in everything.
Small species of sturgeon and their habitat
- In Russia, you can find species of sturgeon in the Ob. Their photos are located below.
- Chinese sturgeon lives in the Yangtze River and the Yellow Sea.
- Atlantic sturgeon lives on the Atlantic coast of the United States of America.
- Japanese sturgeon lives in southern Japan.
- The habitat of the Adriatic sturgeon is the Adriatic Lakes.
- On the shores of Scandinavia and Portugal, the Baltic sturgeon lives.
- White sturgeon donkey on the Pacific coast of the United States of America.
- Alaska, California, the coast of China, Japan and Russia were captured by green Sakhalin sturgeon. This place is extremely dangerous - fish meat is considered inedible here.
- The sturgeon of the Great Lakes lives in the United States of America and in Canada.
Types of sturgeon caviar
- By color, sturgeon caviar fluctuates between brown and yellowish-green. The size of the eggs reaches 2 mm. The taste of caviar is refined and spicy, but with a faint smell of mud. Such caviar is released in jars with a yellow lid.
- Stewed caviar is of no less value than sturgeon caviar. Its color ranges from gray to black. Stellate sturgeon has the smallest eggs - up to 1.5 mm. The taste of this caviar is lean, available in jars with a red lid.
- Nowadays, we have learned to develop hybrids of caviar to improve reproductive properties. For example, bester caviar. This is a hybrid of beluga and sterlet. From beluga they took the value of caviar, and from sterlet the speed of ripening.
From time immemorial, sturgeon and its caviar have been the hallmark of Russian national cuisine, and export brought considerable revenue to the treasury. It is clear why the meeting with the sturgeon was an event for the angler. Few can restrain themselves now so as not to admire its unusual beauty. Most sturgeon species today are protected by conservationists and are listed in the Red Book, so you should be very careful when fishing in prohibited places. Illegal fishing on the territory of the Russian Federation can entail not only administrative, but also criminal punishment.