Atlantic Sturgeon Identification Guide
Identify an Atlantic Sturgeon by its pointed snout, bluish-black back, and five rows of bony scutes.
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Key identification features
- Bluish-black to olive-brown back with a contrasting white belly
- Five rows of prominent bony scutes along the body
- Pointed, moderately long snout
- Small, subterminal (underslung), toothless mouth
- Four barbels arranged in a straight row closer to the mouth than the snout tip
- Can reach up to 14 feet, though most seen today are smaller
Common look-alikes
- Shortnose sturgeon: much smaller at maturity (rarely over 4 feet), with a shorter, blunter snout and a proportionally wider mouth than the Atlantic Sturgeon.
- Gulf sturgeon: a close subspecies with a similar look, separated mainly by range in Gulf of Mexico drainages rather than Atlantic coast rivers.
- Lake Sturgeon: confined to freshwater Great Lakes and connected rivers, never entering saltwater like the strongly anadromous Atlantic Sturgeon.
Where you'll see one
Atlantic Sturgeon migrate between coastal ocean waters and the lower reaches of large rivers from the Canadian Maritimes south to Florida, entering freshwater primarily to spawn in spring. Look for them in river mouths, estuaries, and nearshore continental shelf waters.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell an Atlantic Sturgeon from a Shortnose Sturgeon?
Size and snout shape are the clearest cues: Atlantic Sturgeon grow much larger with a longer, more pointed snout, while Shortnose Sturgeon stay under about 4 feet with a short, rounded snout and wider mouth.
What is the quickest way to confirm a sturgeon is an Atlantic Sturgeon?
Count the scute rows and check habitat — five rows of bony plates on a fish caught in a coastal river mouth or estuary along the Atlantic seaboard strongly points to Atlantic Sturgeon.