ODFW News: Sturgeon Rules Change Sunday

[Pete]

For Immediate Release Friday, January 30, 2004

Rules change Sunday for Columbia and Willamette sturgeon anglers

SALEM - Anglers fishing for sturgeon in the non-estuary area of the lower Columbia River and the lower Willamette River must release all sturgeon caught Sunday through Wednesday starting Feb. 1, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said today.

Sturgeon retention is allowed in the same area for legal size sturgeon Thursday through Saturday only. The three-day per week retention season lasts from Sunday, Feb. 1, through Saturday, July 31, and from Friday, Oct. 1, through Friday, Dec. 31, 2004. Catch and release angling may occur on non-retention days.

The new sturgeon retention rules for the lower Columbia and lower Willamette rivers were announced earlier this month by the states of Oregon and Washington. The sturgeon season is managed to maintain a healthy population of white sturgeon in all age classes by limiting the annual harvest and the size of fish that may be retained.

The objectives governing the sport sturgeon fishery include: a maximum annual harvest of 40,000 fish - with 80 percent of the harvest allocated to sport anglers and 20 percent to commercial boats - split the sport catch 60 percent in the estuary area and 40 percent to non-estuary areas, minimize the need for emergency in-season action and maintain fishery monitoring and management capabilities.

The 2004 sturgeon angling rules for the lower Columbia, Youngs Bay, adjacent Washington tributaries, Multnomah Channel and the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls are:

*Wauna powerlines (river mile 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam:
The retention of sturgeon is allowed seven days a week through Saturday, Jan. 31 for sturgeon 42-60 inches. From Sunday, Feb. 1, through Saturday, July 31, and Friday, Oct. 1, through Friday, Dec. 31, the retention of legal size sturgeon is allowed Thursday through Saturday and prohibited Sunday through Wednesday. The retention of sturgeon is prohibited seven days a week Sunday, Aug. 1, through Thursday, Sept. 30. Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during retention closures.

*Columbia River mouth at Buoy 10 upstream to Wauna powerlines (river mile 40):
The retention of sturgeon is allowed seven days a week Thursday, Jan. 1, through Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 15, through Wednesday, July 23. During the May 15-July 23 retention season the minimum size for a legal sturgeon increases from 42 inches to 45 inches and the maximum size remains 60 inches. Sturgeon retention is prohibited seven days a week Saturday, May 1, through Friday, May 14, and Thursday, July 24, through Friday, Dec. 31. Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during retention closures.

In addition, anglers are reminded that catch limits and other restrictions listed in the current 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations pamphlet remain in effect the entire year. Effective Jan. 1, 2004, the state of Oregon implemented a five-fish-per-year catch limit. Effective April 1, 2004, the state of Washington will implement a five-fish-per-year catch limit.

The retention seasons are expectations based on current scientific modeling. Catches will be tracked by biologists in Washington and Oregon and reviewed in July. Modifications to the seasons will be made if catches exceed the 40,000 fish guideline.

###
Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002

[blacktail519]

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[1 Smart Fish]

:shocked: [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[Pete]

Blacktail, why the razzies? The quota is larger than last year and the seasons were set to permit more days on the water than last year. Also, unlike the last two years, it is unlikely that we'll see emergency closures. Your response confuses me.

[FishinBob]

Well that will about end my sturgeon fishing for this year, nice to see that the open days are all my scheduled work days, but that's my problem...
But the real question is how does this help the sturgeon population? From what I've read the problem is that there are very few fish that make it from the 42-60" range without being caught. So the breeding population of 60"+ fish isn't growing or being replaced as the older ones die off. Lets just close the retension season for say about 5 years and then open it up for retension every other year or so and only on odd numbered days of the week that fall within even number months.

[Digifish]

bump

[Pilar]

The fine is $299 per fish. The man was out by T-6 today checking every boat and relieving some people of their ignorance.

An expensive education to be sure.

[King Kong]

[ 02-01-2004, 09:16 PM: Message edited by: kevin king ]

[glassblower]

Sounds to me like they are trying to make the rules to confusing to keep up with so they can write more fines to generate revenue from. Moving out of state is looking better every day.

[Corkie Monster]

I agree Glass Blower. I have'nt been down to the big rivers lately. Are these new regs clearly posted at the boat luanches?

CM

[Kruechief]

Thanks Pete,

Things sure do seem complicated :whazzup:

I guess if the State can't manage its budget then it can set up sportsmen to help with fines

Krue