Outlaw sturgeon tournaments??

[Eric]

Just read some info. the other day stating columbia r. sturgeon quotas are once again dropping for 2003 thus tightening the noose on the angling public.

Seems there are a number of sturgeon tournaments every year that raise money for a variety of causes (what those causes are, I have no idea but I assume them to be good ones). I even participate in the one held late june down in the estuary.

But, I can't help but wonder if these tournaments are taking a toll on our quotas thus leading to earlier than planned closures? Don't get me wrong, these tournaments are a gas with much commaraderie displayed but is it at the expense of early closures?

I would quit fishing tournaments in a heartbeat if I knew it added another month or 2 to my season. With more people fishing sturgeon than ever before (guides and gen.public) AND tournaments just seems to me this might be too much pressure on a dwindling resource.

I don't like the trend I'm seeing. Before long, it will be a one month season with 1 keeper a year at the rate we are going.......or it may close all together eventually.

Your thoughts?

[TheRogue]

Bass Tourney!! :wink:

Livewells, all fish released after weigh-in. Sturgeon are oodles tougher than bass, shouldn't be a problem with mortality. If you don't have the correct live well setup, you don't get to enter. :smile: :wink: :smile:

Please note sarcasm!

TR

[fishingfirst]

hmmmm..........12' livewell, that would be interesting! :grin:

Scott

[Fish4Fun]

You know Eric, the idea of it closing and turning to a catch and release isn't that far fetched. Look no further than the Fraser River in B.C. The Sturgeon were fished out by the nets and the fisherman to the point that it is now Catch and Release all year. Nice thing about the C&R up there is that the fishery in getting better every year. I know I don't like the idea of closing the lower river right when it is getting hot down there. But, that is better than getting shut out all year.

[Bobby Ray]

I share the same thoughts Eric..

[finclipped]

I think there were about 80 fish or less caught in the Fisherman's tournament last year. Your not going to get another month out of that.

On the flip side, tens of thousands of dollars are raised for sports angler groups, such as the NSIA. They were instrumental in getting hatchery's to mark fish.

[ 02-07-2003, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: finclipped ]

[fishbait]

Eric,

Alot of my buddies will be mad at me for this, but IMHO, I would bet that the total retained catch from one or two of these derby's is less than one day of the cumilative guides catch in the esturary. The main reason for curtailed seasons is increased pressure both from guides and sportfishers over the last decade due to dimished salmon runs.