Female angler on the Fraser River achieves milestone for reeling in an untagged white sturgeon of 11’4″

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An 11-foot, four-inch untagged white sturgeon. (Image Credit: Sturgeon Slayers.)

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What a catch!

Female angler on the Fraser River achieves milestone for reeling in an untagged white sturgeon of 11'4"

1h ago

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“This was an absolutely incredible fish,” says Estrada, who founded Sturgeon Slayers in 2008 and is also co-chairman of the Fraser Valley Angling Guides Association. “When you see a fish with these kinds of measurements, you realize how special the Fraser River is. And what makes it even more meaningful is that it was untagged. We were able to put a tag on it and contribute valuable information to a Fraser River Sturgeon population that represents an irreplaceable natural resource.”

Back in June 2026, Estrada was also managing an outing that helped set a new world record for a white sturgeon catch when it landed a monster 11’ by 8.2” fork-length white sturgeon, with an estimated weight of 1,100 to 1,200 pounds, surpassing his previous world record set five years earlier when another of his excursions landed, tagged and released an 11’ by 6.5” fork-length fish.

White sturgeon. (Image Credit: Sturgeon Slayers.)

Sturgeon Slayers’ extraordinary 2026 season will be featured in the upcoming film, “More Than a Catch” from Fargone Media, which chronicles the pursuit of Fraser River giants and the remarkable stories behind the fish. The film will spotlight the journey from the Slayers’ 2021 record through its 2026 catch that surpassed that mark, and the subsequent capture and release of this most recent 11-foot-4-inch example.

And while the adage of “size matters” certainly applies to these excursions, it isn’t the defining factor when it comes to the true importance of these monumental catches, says Estrada.

“These White Sturgeon are one of BC’s most iconic freshwater species, and the Fraser River population represents an irreplaceable natural resource,” he said. “We have spent years promoting responsible catch-and-release angling, tagging, education and conservation. Every one of these big fish tells us something. We want people to appreciate how remarkable these fish are, but also to understand that they are worth protecting. The goal is to see these giants continue to swim in the Fraser for generations.”

Sturgeon Slayers says the Fraser River white sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish species in North America, and is considered one of the most remarkable fish populations on the planet with a history that stretches back millions of years. While the fish can reach extraordinary sizes and live for more than a century, their long-term future depends on continued conservation efforts, habitat protection, research and public education.

To that end, Sturgeon Slayers says it is fixed firmly on consideration of conservation best practices, mandatory catch-and-release methods, showcasing proper fish handling and recovery, minimizing fight times, teaching calm, controlled landings and providing guest education on sturgeon care.

The company says it operates under a mentality that there is no future in guiding without conservation. Every trip it makes on the Fraser River is guided with respect for the fish, the ecosystem, and the responsibility that comes with access to one of the world’s most important white sturgeon fisheries, Estrada says.

Sturgeon Slayers also is a key member of the Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Tagging Program that also includes the FVAGA, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, InStream Fisheries Research, the province of British Columbia, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The data collected by each of these partner organizations enables researchers and scientists to track sturgeon movement, growth and population health and guides how the species is protected long term.