UMATILLA COUNTY, OR -- Oregon State Police troopers are investigating the illegal taking of an oversized sturgeon from an eastern Oregon sturgeon breeding sanctuary. The big fish was taken from Umatilla County on or around May ninth.

In a video posted to Snapchat, one person holds the fishing rod hooked to the fish, while another gets into the water to wrestle the sturgeon to shore. That person then lifts it up and shoves his hands through the gills and mouth - a move that was likely fatal to the sturgeon, which appears to be over six feet long. The video was posted under the username “Rodrigo,” with a maple leaf emoji. 

Fishing for sturgeon is not allowed in the breeding sanctuary between May first and August 31, to protect the breeding stock.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact OSP Dispatch at 800-452-7888, *OSP (*677) on a cell phone, or email.