A Sturgeon Slayers guided trip in the Fraser River in October produced an 11.4-foot sturgeon catch for a woman from St. Louis, Missouri.
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A Chilliwack-based sturgeon guide group says a guided fishing trip in the Lower Mainland in October resulted in an 11.4-foot sturgeon catch for Katharine Eckert, who was visiting from St. Louis, Missouri.
Eckert, 33, said the experience was “such a crazy sensation” because of how big the fish was while she was fighting it. She described not realizing the full size until it was close and came out of the water as “really spectacular,” adding, “I just can’t believe that it happened.”
The company, Sturgeon Slayers, said it believes the catch could be the largest freshwater fish ever caught by a female angler. Owner Kevin Estrada said sturgeon are released after they are caught, and tagged data is sent to conservation efforts.
Estrada linked the group’s past record-setting catches to its science and conservation focus, saying Sturgeon Slayers broke its own record for the largest sturgeon in June after setting another record in 2021 for the largest white sturgeon on rod and reel. He said the June catch measured 11.8 feet long.
Eckert said she had not expected a fish of that size when she went on the trip, noting she was “just happy to be there.” She and her guides spent about 40 minutes bringing the sturgeon in, fighting the currents before hand-reeling it near the end.
Asked what to do while a fish of that size was pulling on her arm, Eckert said Estrada told her to keep the line up, keep reeling and “just hold on.” She also said the moment was met with shock from the group as the fish was coming out of the water.
Estrada said conservation efforts have allowed sturgeon to live longer, and he pointed to a conservation science focus that includes mortality associated with gill nets. He said anyone can try to catch a sturgeon, and that women are a growing demographic in the sport.
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