Researchers catch record-breaking lake sturgeon in Georgia’s Coosa River

ROME, Ga. — Researchers from the University of Georgia have caught the largest lake sturgeon ever reported to the the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

DNR officials say the researchers caught 52 inch, 24 pound lake sturgeon from a portion of the Coosa River in Rome. They say the fish is the largest of its species that they’ve since they began stocking the native species in 2001.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Before releasing the fish back into the river, it was implanted with a radio tag so researchers and DNR officials can continue to monitor it.

Lake sturgeon cannot be harvested. If you catch one, you are required to quickly release it back into the water.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Parents of toddler found wandering South Fulton streets located
• Former Ga. postal worker pleads guilty to trying to send drugs in the mail while on disability
• Cox Media Group, National Association of Black Journalists announce Jovita Moore Scholarship Fund

Officials do ask that if you catch one, take a picture of it before releasing it and report the date, time and location of the sighting to the Armuchee Fisheries Office at 706-295-6102.

They say fishers reporting these sightings are crucial to fisheries’ efforts to reintroduce species back into the population.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Bartow woman reels in quite the catch, sets Georgia record

©2022 Cox Media Group