Sturgeon closes Aug. 1

[Killertraylor]

Just heard that the Columbia estuary will officially close Aug. 1 and remain closed throughout Sept. for sturgeon. Thankfully there's going to be a lot of salmon around. I haven't confirmed this with ODFW, but I heard it through Butch Smith of Coho Charters who is going to take a big business hit because of this. He had 27 sturgeon trips booked in Aug. and although some of those people will re-book for salmon, many of them won't. Too bad...

[Mr. Fisherman]

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HAven't made it out for ol' diamond sides yet
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[sturgn]

Heres the latest as of this morning:


PORTLAND — Oregon and Washington officials will meet on Monday, July 23 to review this year’s sport fishing harvest of white sturgeon in the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam and consider closing the fishery to retention of sturgeon. Legal sized sturgeon may need to be released for a month or longer to keep the catch from exceeding an annual quota.

The sport harvest of white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River is limited to 39,500 in 2001 as part of a three year agreement between Oregon and Washington to limit sport and commercial harvest to levels that will assure continued health of the white sturgeon population. The commercial white sturgeon harvest is limited to 9,400 this year.

The sturgeon sport catch this summer is the largest in six years, making it likely the season will need to be curtailed to avoid exceeding the quota. Sport fishing advisors met earlier this year and recommended a mid-August to mid-September closed period if necessary. Biologists believe that the catch in June and July may be large enough that all sturgeon caught will need to be released beginning as early as August 1 and possibly extending past mid-September to keep the catch below the annual quota.

The joint state hearing will be held July 23 at 1 pm at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Commission Room, 2501 SW 1st Avenue, Portland. Public testimony regarding the fishing options will be received at the hearing.