Yes, it's true: merg's fish was big. (incedentally, when he hooked and landed a smaller one he refused to allow eager shad fishermen to net his fish. He was quite obviously NOT desirous of hurting any sturgeon.)

And Yes: I, being of sound mind and body, did, on the date in question, witness a sturgeon come charging out of the depths and bash its face into Vhawk's 1/32oz shad dart and become hooked in it's face with a size 6 hook.

I witnessed many shad being drowned in bloody buckets, impaled upon stringers, bled from the gills with scissors, and bashed in the head with rocks and small sticks, but on NO OCCASION did I see sturgeon being prevented from spawning or being emotionally or physically abused.

thanks