green sturgeon
Acipenser medirostris
A giant sturgeon from the North Pacific coast, up to 2.7 m and 159 kg. It is threatened with extinction worldwide, so releasing it is best.
Also called: esturjão-verde, esturión verde, green sturgeon
- maximum
- 270 cm
- record/max.
- 159.0 kg
- depth
- 0–80 m
who is the green sturgeon
A sturgeon of the family Acipenseridae, up to 2.7 m and 159 kg, with a recorded age of up to 60 years. It occurs on the North Pacific coast, from Alaska to Mexico, in estuaries, the lower reaches of large rivers, and in salt and brackish water near river mouths. It lives close to the bottom, from sea level down to 80 m, and can travel long distances in the ocean. Adults probably spawn in fresh water. In fishing it sometimes appears as a sport fish, and it has a small commercial fishery.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the green sturgeon; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Recorded ages reach 60 years, and the species can travel long distances at sea.
identification
Elongated body, with a row of bony plates along the middle of the belly, between the anus and the anal fin. The dorsal fin begins in the last third of the body. Back olive green to dark green, with a whitish belly and an olive green longitudinal stripe on each side. The barbels are closer to the mouth than to the tip of the snout. The pectoral fins are large and rounded, and the other fins are grayish to pale green.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
It occurs in Mexico, on the North Pacific coast, as far as Ensenada, in Baja California.
Habitat: Estuaries, river mouths and brackish or salt water near the coast, down to 80 m.
rules for the green sturgeon
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
A species threatened worldwide: the best option is to release it, carefully. Because it is large and heavy, avoid lifting it out of the water and keep it in the water whenever possible.
in the kitchen
It is edible, but its taste and smell are unpleasant.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00295, b = 3.18; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Acipenser medirostris (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Acipenser medirostrisNames by country and language.
