It was a catch to remember for the Kilby Lodge fishing team.
The fishing group managed to reel in an 11.5-foot (3.5-metres) sturgeon at the confluence of the Harrison and Fraser Rivers during a day-trip on July 3.
“It’s an amazing catch,” said Kilby Lodge owner and main guide Robert Wozniakiewicz. “To our knowledge, the largest sturgeon caught in the Fraser River was 11.7 feet, but our fish is the largest since that one was caught three years ago!”
The mammoth catch was hauled in by a man named Vickram Karavadra. Karavadra – who hails from the U.K. – has been a regular visitor at the Kilby Lodge, making visits twice a year.
"He is very passionate about fishing and the beauty our area of B.C. has to offer," said Wozniakiewicz of Karavadra. "He understands that it's a world-class fishing experience."
The fish was landed near the Mountain Bar after a nearly-two-hour battle that required all hands on deck with Wozniakiewicz, Karavadra and fellow team member Roland Bouthillier helping to reel in the beast.
Sturgeon fishing is open year-round in B.C. but is most popular between the months of March to November. The mid-summer months of June to early September are regarded as the most productive with the province strictly enforcing their catch-and-release policy.
