Chandler Lee Tudor hooked and landed a 4-foot lake sturgeon out of the Gasconade River

A man catfishing along the Gasconade River in Pulaski County was surprised last week when he reeled in an unexpected prehistoric fish. The Missouri Department of Conservation says Chandler Lee Tudor hooked and landed a 4-foot lake sturgeon out of the Gasconade River Wednesday evening. Pulaski County Conservation Agent Nathan Ingles announced the rare fishing result on Saturday’s Conservation Time program with Marv Luten.

Tudor was using worms as bait attempting to catch a catfish as he was fishing at the Riddle Bridge Access.
This species of fish is protected as an endangered species in Missouri and
after a quick picture to document the catch, the fish was immediately released back into the Gasconade River.