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ROME, Ga. \u2014 University of Georgia researchers have captured the largest lake sturgeon ever reported to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
Lake sturgeon cannot be harvested. If you catch one, you must quickly throw it back into the water.<\/p>\n
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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 .<\/p>\n
They say fishermen who report such sightings are crucial to the fishery’s efforts to reintroduce species into the population.<\/p>\n