These fish both fascinate and frighten for their largess and timelessness. Known as an ancient wanderer, this prehistoric fish has rebounded from near extinction and are protected under the Endangered Species Act. The sturgeon will soon be traveling up the Suwannee and into the darkening Santa Fe River. They are fond of dark, tannic waters and congregate in deep holes to hibernate during the summer. Because the Santa Fe River is not always dark and historically was more of a clear, spring fed river, sturgeon did not frequent the Santa Fe River. As the Santa Fe River looses spring flow from over-pumping, it has become a consistently dark, tannic river, which means that the sturgeon will find the Santa Fe River more appealing for summer hibernation.
In the winter sturgeon travel back out into the gulf to feed and fatten. They grow up to nine feet long and can weigh up to 300 lbs with their hard bony exoskeleton, Read more about these amazing fish HERE.
Sturgeon are feared by boaters for their jumps which can be as high as nine feet. Boaters sometimes collide with these large bony fish which can lead to great damage and sometimes death, especially for those speeding by, which can greatly increases the force of impact.
The video below was produced recently and contains current and historical information about the sturgeon, their near extinction, their tracking and why and when they jump. If you want to learn more about this secretive fish, I highly recommend the video below.
OSFR President Joanne Tremblay
joanne.tremblay@oursantaferiver.org
“Giving Our River A Voice”
