Lake Sturgeon Project

Reporting Your Catch 

Since 2000, over 300,000 Lake Sturgeon have been stocked into the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. These stocking efforts are designed to restore reproducing populations of this primitive species.  This species is known to travel long distances, so it is very likely that anglers could catch lake sturgeon in other waters of the state.

Although you cannot specifically fish for lake sturgeon and they must be released if caught, TWRA encourages anglers to report pertinent information from incidental catches, such as the time and location of capture, and the length of the lake sturgeon.  These reports are important because they provide us with important information needed to monitor the success of Tennessee’s Lake Sturgeon program. This information will help further guide TWRA’s restoration efforts. 

If you catch a Lake Sturgeon, please be as careful as possible not to harm the fish. Avoid holding the Lake Sturgeon by its tail, and remember fish cannot breathe while they are out of the water.  Lake Sturgeon is threatened in Tennessee and should be released immediately. If possible, note an approximate length before the fish is released. 

Submit your information by either:

1) Filling out and submitting the Lake Sturgeon Angler Report Form

2) Call the Fisheries Division at 615-781-6575 or your nearest TWRA regional office.

3) Emailing information to sturgeon.reports@tn.gov.

This data will provide important movement and growth information needed to monitor the success of Tennessee’s lake sturgeon reintroduction program. Additionally, a photo of your catch would be appreciated if you can do so without harming the fish. In appreciation for reporting this information, anglers will receive a Lake Sturgeon Certificate.

Learn more

Learn more about Sturgeon on our Wildlife Fish Sturgeon webpage.

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