DETROIT — This was a monster of a catch.
One of the largest lake sturgeons ever caught in the United States was caught in the Detroit River last week, and it is believed to be more than 100 years old, WDIV reported.
According to a Facebook post by the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, a native species crew caught the sturgeon, which tipped the scales at 240 pounds and measured 6 feet, 10 inches long. Its girth was measured at 4 feet.
Officials caught a nearly 7-foot long, 240-pound lake sturgeon in the Detroit River. She's believed to be more than 100 years old.
— WXYZ Detroit (@wxyzdetroit) April 30, 2021
They measured her and quickly released her back into the river. https://t.co/ZzFjhxkWkj
“Based on its girth and size, it is assumed to be a female and that she has been roaming our waters over 100 years,” the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office wrote on Facebook. “So, she likely hatched in the Detroit River around 1920 when Detroit became the fourth largest city in America.”
The sturgeon was immediately released back into the river after it was measured and weighed, WXYZ reported.
Lake sturgeons typically range from 3 to 6 feet in length when fully grown, WDIV reported. According to Michigan Sea Grant, lake sturgeon are one of the oldest species in the Great Lakes. The fish can reportedly live for 55 to 150 years and can reach a length of 8 feet and a weight of 300 pounds, the organization said.
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