Shovelnose Sturgeon
Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
A primitive freshwater fish with a flattened, shovel-like snout and rows of bony plates along its body. One of the smallest North American sturgeon species, known for its bottom-feeding habits.
Shovelnose Sturgeon at a glance
- Scientific name
- Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
- Typical size
- 12-24 inches, 1-4 lbs
- Water
- Freshwater
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Rare
Habitat
Found in large river systems of the Mississippi River basin, preferring sandy or rocky bottoms in flowing water. Anglers typically target them with bottom rigs using worms, small fish, or cut bait. They are often caught incidentally while fishing for other species.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a shovelnose sturgeon through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksShovelnose Sturgeon questions people ask
Shovelnose Sturgeon is Scaphirhynchus platorynchus.
A typical shovelnose sturgeon runs 12-24 inches, 1-4 lbs. Cobia records the length and weight of every shovelnose sturgeon you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Found in large river systems of the Mississippi River basin, preferring sandy or rocky bottoms in flowing water. Anglers typically target them with bottom rigs using worms, small fish, or cut bait. They are often caught incidentally while fishing for other species. It is a fresh water species, filed under freshwater in the Fishdex.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.