Sturgeon & Crabs

[Barnyard]

Fished the Naselle for Sturgeon last weekend and couldn't keep bait on for all the crabs. This has been the case for the lasat year or two. The Naselle was at one time a dandy Sturg river but with all the new Oyster beds it seems that the crabs have taken over. My questions are:
1. Do crabs tend to drive the Sturg out
2. Do the crabs eat the sturg food thus chasing out the Sturg
3. Do crabs follow the Oyster beds
4. Could poachers wipe out the Sturg almost overnight
I ask these questions because this river used to be full of sturg...Thanks in advance...Barn.......Keep fishin

[Hoosier Daddy]

Dunno but here's some thoughts:
1) I think the sturgeon would just eat the crabs. Tasty morsels that they are.
2) Competition for food could be an issue. Do you have any of these nasty imported asian-type crabs? Cause they are tending to foul stuff up everywhere. Or are you mostly referring to our dungeness and red rock.
3) Crabs might follow the oyster development, or might be some other related factor, disturbance of bottom, etc. that would attract them. Or just a good year for crabs. Also, lots of development in the area could potentially convince the sturgeon to move elsewhere.
4) Yeah, poachers can wipe anything out. Have you called your local fish Bio.?

Any and all of this is pure speculation, of course.

[scooby]

The Naselle use to be filled with sturgeon all year just like another river flowing into the bay down there. I have often wondered if it was poaching or just overharvest that has ruined those smaller river sturgeon fisheries. I think it is a combo of both. I have seen way too many people keep shakers and large ones out of that river.

It has been my experience that the sturgeon make the crabs go away - i think they eat them. Put their old vacum suction on and no more crab. A couple of times we have been fishing and the crabs just dissappeared, voila we were into some sturgeon real quick.

anyway, the best fishing now seems to be when the rivers blow out. I think they come up looking for food.

oh yeah, if there are alot of crabs around try fishing the last couple of hours of the outgoing tide that seems keep them away.

scooby out

[This message has been edited by scooby (edited 12-15-2000).]

[This message has been edited by scooby (edited 12-15-2000).]

[Barnyard]

I know they took a poachers net out of it a couple years ago. I've still got the article...It was such a good river and then overnight no fish....Thanks for the info...That "other" rivers kicking out a few winter runs....

[scooby]

Barnyard, thanks for the info - That is my old stompin grounds - mom and pops still reside there. I usually make a few trips annually, not enough time for more than that.

I heard of some illegal long lines a few years back down that way.

scooby out