Gulf sturgeon in Florida
Meet the species
Scientific name
Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi
Overview
Sturgeon are anadromous, a term used to describe fish that spend a part of their lives in saltwater, yet travel upstream in freshwater rivers to spawn. Such fish return year after year to the same stream where they were hatched. For gulf sturgeon, which are found from Florida to louisiana, this means a move from salt to fresh water between february and april and a move downriver between september and november. They spend the winter in the gulf of mexico in sandy-bottom habitats six to 100 feet deep, where their diet consists of marine worms, grass shrimp, crabs and a variety of other bottom-dwelling organisms. They eat very little while in freshwater rivers. Gulf sturgeon can be found from the mississippi river in louisiana, east to the suwannee river in Florida where they inhabit both salt and fresh water habitats, annually cycling between the two. Gulf sturgeon migrate into brackish and salt water during the fall and feed there throughout the winter months. In the spring, they migra
At a glance
- Regions
- Big bend, statewide gulf, inland north
- Water
- Saltwater
When to fish
Season notes
Months mentioned in profile narrative (not a fishing calendar): feb, apr, may, sep, nov no recreational fishing season calendar, non-game, imperiled, nonnative & or non-angling taxon.
Where to fish
Florida regions
Big bend, statewide gulf & inland north
Water
Saltwater
Habitat
Sturgeon are anadromous, a term used to describe fish that spend a part of their lives in saltwater, yet travel upstream in freshwater rivers to spawn. Such fish return year after year to the same stream where they were hatched. For gulf sturgeon, which are found from Florida to louisiana, this means a move from salt to fresh water between february and april and a move downriver between september and november. They spend the winter in the gulf of mexico in sandy-bottom habitats six to 100 feet deep, where their diet consists of marine worms, grass shrimp, crabs and a variety of other bottom-dwelling organisms. They eat very little while in freshwater rivers. Gulf sturgeon can be found from the mississippi river in louisiana, east to the suwannee river in Florida where they inhabit both salt and fresh water habitats, annually cycling between the two. Gulf sturgeon migrate into brackish and salt water during the fall and feed there throughout the winter months. In the spring, they migra
Videos
Sources
- Myfwc.com
Information comes from the supplied source datasets. Check linked FWC regulations for current rules.