Species profile
White Sturgeon
Acipenser transmontanus
Identify White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 6 jurisdictions.
At a glance
White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 7 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Oregon); the most generous is 2 (Oregon).
Confirmed by 543 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Oregon, and British Columbia 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
- The largest freshwater fish in North America, reaching up to 20 feet long.
- Can weigh over 1,000 pounds, making it North America's heaviest freshwater fish.
- Can live over 100 years in Pacific Coast rivers.
- Found primarily in large rivers like the Columbia and Sacramento.
- Like all sturgeons, lacks true scales and is armored with bony scutes.
Where White Sturgeon are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for White Sturgeon
Protected status
- CITES Appendix II (all Acipenseriformes not in Appendix I).
- SARA Schedule 1 (endangered): White 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
White sturgeon (Sinosturio transmontanus) is a species of sturgeon in the family Acipenseridae of the order Acipenseriformes. They are an anadromous (migratory) fish species ranging in the Eastern Pacific; from the Gulf of Alaska to Monterey, California. However, some are landlocked in the Columbia River Drainage, Montana, and Lake Shasta in California, with reported sightings in northern Baja…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's White Sturgeon article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is White Sturgeon?
White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 7 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for White Sturgeon?
White Sturgeon is Acipenser transmontanus.
Is White Sturgeon regulated for fishing?
Yes — White Sturgeon has fishing regulations in 6 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 White Sturgeon?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes White 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.