Fisherman catches ‘rare and endangered’ 50-pound fish in Missouri

ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – A person from Missouri caught a “uncommon and endangered” fish within the Ozarks final week earlier than releasing it again into the lake.

Troy Staggs, of Grain Valley, caught a 30-year-old lake sturgeon whereas fishing on the Lake of the Ozarks, the Missouri Division of Conservation confirmed on Fb. Staggs reeled within the sturgeon after his fishing sort out turned wrapped across the fish’s tail.

“It took him 47 minutes to convey the fish to the boat, the place he took a fast measurement, snapped a number of footage, and launched the fish again into the lake,” the MDC wrote.

Staggs mentioned the fish weighed between 50 and 55 kilos, and measured 56 inches in size.

On Fb, Staggs referred to as it “the hardest fish I’ve ever caught,” particularly contemplating he didn’t handle to catch it the normal manner.

“Most undoubtedly a catch I’ll always remember. … Glad it swam away prefer it was by no means bothered,” he mentioned.

Lake sturgeon are thought of “uncommon and endangered” in Missouri, with solely six catches reported (together with Staggs’) within the Lake of the Ozarks since 2016. Fishermen who hook lake sturgeon are instructed to launch them instantly after seize, and report their catches to native conservation brokers.

The fish can reside to be 150 years outdated and develop to 300 kilos, in line with the MDC.

“Sturgeon developed through the Jurassic period and survived the place the dinosaurs didn’t,” the division notes on its web site. “Sturgeon live hyperlinks to the previous.”