Species profile
Lake Sturgeon
Acipenser fulvescens
Identify Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 12 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 16 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Bag limits are uniform at 1 per angler across the 4 regulating jurisdictions.
Across 3 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 62.6 in (≈ 5 ft 3 in).
Confirmed by 669 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Wisconsin, and Quebec the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under CITES and SARA — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Can live over 150 years, making them one of North America's longest-lived freshwater fish.
- Females may wait up to 9 years between spawning events.
- Lacks teeth entirely, using a vacuum-like protruding mouth to suck up bottom prey.
- Can grow over 7 feet long and weigh more than 200 pounds.
- Has five rows of bony armor plates called scutes instead of scales.
Where Lake Sturgeon are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Lake Sturgeon
Protected status
- CITES Appendix II (all Acipenseriformes not in Appendix I).
- SARA Schedule 1 (special concern): Lake Sturgeon. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The lake sturgeon (Huso fulvescens), also known as the rock sturgeon, is a North American temperate freshwater fish, one of 27 species of sturgeon. Like other sturgeons, this species is a bottom feeder and has a partly cartilaginous skeleton, an overall streamlined shape, and skin bearing rows of bony plates on the sides and back.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Lake Sturgeon article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Lake Sturgeon?
Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 16 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Lake Sturgeon?
Lake Sturgeon is Acipenser fulvescens.
Is Lake Sturgeon regulated for fishing?
Yes — Lake Sturgeon has fishing regulations in 12 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Lake Sturgeon?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Lake Sturgeon along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.