A sturgeon that appeared to be at more than 6 feet long was illegally pulled out of the Columbia River and likely died, according to the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division.
The poaching was discovered after video was shared online on Snapchat under the user name “Rodrigo” with a maple-leaf emoji.
Officers say the incident likely occurred May 9 in the Columbia River south of the Tri-Cities. Wash., on the Umatilla County, Ore., side of the river.
The video shows one person holding the fishing rod hooked to the sturgeon while another person enters the water and wrestles the sturgeon to shore.
He then lifts the sturgeon vertically by shoving his hands through the gills and out the mouth.
“An easy 100 pounder,” says writing on a video screenshot.
The injuries to the sturgeon’s gills “were almost certainly fatal,” according to the state police.
Fishing for sturgeon is not allowed in areas of the Columbia River designated as breeding sanctuaries from May 1 to Aug. 31 to protect breeding stock.
Male sturgeons do not breed until they are about 4.5 feet long and 10 to 15 years old and female sturgeons do not breed until the are about 5.5 feet long and 15 to 25 years old, according to an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife study cited by the state police.
Anyone with information is asked to call the state police at 800-452-7888 or to email TIP
