Sturgeon’s threatening jump breaks boater’s leg

A Florida boat passenger’s leg was broken by a jumping gulf sturgeon on Sunday, the Gainesville Sun reported.

The 75-pound, 1.5-meter long fish pounced out of the waters and crashed its hard body into 25-year old Tina Fletcher.

"She was riding on a 16-foot-long Freedom Craft air prop airboat when the fish jumped and hit her leg," Karen Parker, spokeswoman of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), told the Gainesville Sun.

Florida gulf sturgeons, most well known for their caviar, are capable of growing up to 2.4 meters long and of weighing 90 kilograms.

The reason of the attacks of the sturgeons is still a mystery, although freshwater fisheries biologist Allen Martin claimed that there is no malice behind.

"I have seen these encounters referred to as 'attacks.' However, these fish are in no way attacking when they jump," said Martin.

FWC issued a warning to boaters about gulf sturgeons jumping from waters. Fletcher’s accident is the fifth report in Florida since April, and the severest, according to the report.