RIVER FISH · Protected river wildlife
Atlantic sturgeon
Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus
A long-lived migratory fish with rows of bony plates, four barbels beneath its snout and an uneven, shark-like tail.
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Meet the fish
- Habitat
- Atlantic coastal waters, estuaries and freshwater spawning rivers.
- On the menu
- Bottom-dwelling invertebrates, including worms and mollusks, and some fish.
- Size context
- NOAA reports lengths up to 14 feet. This is a maximum, not a typical size.
- Range & local context
- Atlantic rivers and coastal waters from Canada to Florida.
Living with the river
Water & habitat
Access to spawning habitat and good water quality matter. Dams, low oxygen and other habitat changes can affect recovery; flow alone is not a habitat-health rating.
Seasonal life
Adults return to their birth rivers to spawn. Timing differs among rivers; some southern systems have spring and fall runs.
Protection & official guidance
Protected: do not target or keep Atlantic sturgeon. U.S. populations are federally listed as endangered or threatened. For an accidental capture, follow NOAA's release and reporting guidance.
Use the linked agencies and the relevant river guide for current regulations, closures and consumption advisories. A species profile is not a fishing license or a statement that harvest is allowed.
Editorial review: . Regional size examples are labeled; maximum lengths are not typical sizes.
More river fish
Keep exploring species connected to the same river-guide network.