Gilboa

[Deep Thought]

Mike the owner sumarized the paddle fish as plankton eater, eating in the upper layers, and the sturgeon as snail or critter eaters on the bottom.  When there is a lack of bottom food the sturgeon will switch to mid / upper water filter feeders like the paddlefish.  When I saw the paddle fish they were out in the middle of the quarry swimming around 20-30 feet.  They are quite skittish, even with a rebreather.  The sturgeon swam right up to me in about 40-50 feet near a perimeter wall, checked me out and swam away.

Unfortunately the time I carried the camera was our second encounter and they were too distant for my camera to focus, still big fish even at distance.  When I saw the sturgeon, I did not carry the camera.

I've also seen paddle fish at Mermett Springs, though vis is not as great as Gilboa.  Both are well worth the drive!