ROME, Ga. — University of Georgia researchers have captured the largest lake sturgeon ever reported to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
DNR officials say researchers caught 52-inch, 24-pound lake sturgeon from a portion of the Coosa River in Rome. They say the fish is the largest of their species they’ve had since they started stocking the native species in 2001.
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Before the fish was released back into the river, it was implanted with a radio tag so researchers and DNR officials can continue to monitor it.
Lake sturgeon cannot be harvested. If you catch one, you must quickly throw it back into the water.
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Officials ask that if you catch one, take a photo of it before releasing it and report the date, time and location of the sighting to the Armuchee Fisheries Office at 706-295-6102 .
They say fishermen who report such sightings are crucial to the fishery’s efforts to reintroduce species into the population.
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