From Feb. 26, 1999 to May 9, 2005; a total of 78 pallid sturgeon were captured between river miles 0 to 250. Pallid sturgeon captures include: coded wire tagged fish from 1992, 1997, and 2004 stockings, elostomer tagged hatchery fish, wild fish, and pallids of unknown origin (fish that were not scanned for tags).

Four pallids have been captured twice. Two adult pallids were recaptured by Columbia FRO in 2002; one had been at large for a month and the other for three years. One sub-adult fish was captured and recaptured in 2003 and a large adult was recaptured in 2005 (original PIT origin is still unknown).

The Office also captured 99 pallid/shovelnose hybrids. Character Index (CI) values proposed for Middle Mississippi fish were used to classify these sturgeons. Biologist's field classifications were changed if CI values showed a different designation. However, in rare cases, we felt the index did not work and biologist's classification was kept. The CI values for hybrid and pallid sturgeon overlap slightly relying on morphological features to distinguish between the species (in most cases, sturgeon in the overlapping values are classified as hybrids). Comparisons of known age 1992 and 1997 year class hatchery pallids (recaptured in 2005) to wild fish captured in 2005 suggests a successful spawning event occurred around 1997. An increase in size of the larger hybrids over the last six years may also add support for a spawning event around this time. Our ability to capture adult broodstock will increase as we identify spawning grounds, incorporate telemetry, or identifying seasonal opportunities related to habitat use. We are still in a period of refining sampling techniques to better target adult pallids.

The data being collected and analyzed on pallid sturgeon is an essential aspect to recovering the pallid sturgeon under the ?Aquatic Species Conservation and Management ? Native species? goal in recovering resource populations protected under the Endangered Species Act.