Sept. 1 (UPI) — A retired NHL goalie on a fishing trip to British Columbia, Canada, reeled in an 11-foot, 6-inch sturgeon that might be a new world record for the species.
Pete Peeters, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals during his 1977-1991 tenure in the NHL, was fishing with guide Kevin Estrada of Sturgeon Slayers when he hooked a massive sturgeon in the Fraser River, near Chilliwack.
Peeters and his fishing companions spent nearly one-half hour struggling with the giant fish before getting it to the boat.
The sturgeon measured 11 feet, 6 inches long and 55 inches in girth. It’s weight was estimated at 890 pounds.
Another nearby fishing guide was summoned to the boat to verify the measurements.
Estrada said sturgeon in the Fraser River must be returned to the water after being chipped. He said the sturgeon reeled in by Peeters did not have a chip, indicating it might never have been caught, despite being estimated to be more than 100 years old.
Estrada and Peeters said they are now submitting documentation to have the fish recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest sturgeon ever caught.