Shovelnose sturgeon
Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
A slender, shark-like body armored with bony plates called scutes, a shovel-shaped snout, and downward-facing barbels used to locate food on the bottom — smaller and more streamlined than lake or Atlantic sturgeon.
The Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio River systems and their major tributaries — a true river fish that avoids lakes and still water.
Fishing Notes
Bottom-fished nightcrawlers or cut bait near current breaks, wing dams, and deep river channels is the standard approach. Check state-specific regulations, since harvest rules vary widely along its range.
Gear for targeting Shovelnose sturgeon
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Scientific Classification▾
Ready to go fishing?
Find a boat ramp near you and check state fishing regulations before you head out.
Photography sourced from Wikimedia Commons contributors.
