Out of the water?

Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing.  Disrupting the buoyancy of a sturgeon can damage the skeletal structure; this is too far out of the water.  Sturgeon can be rolled over onto their backs in the water before removing the hook.  This generally calms the fish down making it easier to remove the hook.  Do not grasp a sturgeon by the gills.  Do not mark, scar, or put a tail rope on the sturgeon.