The sturgeon jumped out of the water as the boat was traveling north at about 25 mph, hitting the woman as she sat on the starboard side. The impact also knocked her out of the boat, witnesses reporting that the fish was about 60 to 70 pounds. Megargel’s husband jumped into the water to rescue her, while the 10-year-old operated the boat, and they took her to Manatee Springs State Park. She was taken to Shands Hospital in Gainesville by helicopter for treatment of multiple injuries, according to the commission.

This is the second reported sturgeon encounter this year, the last one on May 1.

This is the usual season for gulf sturgeon to begin their annual migration back into the Suwannee River, where six boaters were hurt and 11 other encounters with the bony-nosed fish were reported in 2011, according to the commission.