Maplewood resident Katharine Eckurttook a fishing vacation to British Columbia’s Fraser River after seeing a 2024 story about NHL defenseman Nick Leddy reeling in a massive sturgeon with the guide service Sturgeon Slayers. The Missouri woman, accompanied by her boyfriend Justin and Sturgeon Slayers founder Kevin Estrada, hoped for a unique outdoor experience instead of a typical beach getaway.
Record‑size catch
During the trip, Eckert hooked an 11‑foot, 4‑inch white sturgeon that guides estimated to weigh between 1,100 and 1,200 pounds. The fish measured roughly 60 inches around the pectoral fins and 70 inches around the belly, according to Estrada. The battle with the prehistoric‑looking fish lasted about 40 minutes before the team safely brought it aboard.
“I remember thinking, ‘My gosh, this is really hard,’” Eckert told FOX 2 in St. Louis. “Once we got it closer to the boat, seeing it come out of the water a little bit, and realizing, ‘Oh, we have something really incredible,’ … I was in shock, but also grateful for the experience.”
Potential historic milestone
Estrada noted that the sturgeon was as massive as a larger male‑caught fish recorded a week earlier, which measured 11 feet, 8 inches and was also estimated at roughly 1,200 pounds. While no documented freshwater catch by a female angler exceeds Eckert’s haul, the fish was never officially weighed because British Columbia’s white‑sturgeon are protected under catch‑and‑release regulations. Guides therefore rely on length and girth measurements to estimate weight.
Even without an official certificate, Eckert’s catch is being hailed as a contender for the world‑record category for female anglers. The fish was measured, tagged, and released back into the Fraser River, providing valuable data for ongoing sturgeon‑conservation research.
Personal connection to sturgeon
Eckert grew up fishing for bass and catfish with her father and has long been fascinated by sturgeon. She even sports a sturgeon tattoo and named her dog Caviar. “The pictures don’t really do it justice,” she said. “Being in the presence of something that big in the moment is definitely something I’ll never forget.”
The successful outing highlights the growing interest in sport‑fishing tourism and the role of experienced guides in ensuring both safety and conservation. Sturgeon Slayers, the outfit that facilitated the trip, continues to promote responsible angling practices while helping anglers experience some of North America’s most impressive freshwater giants.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
