Sturgeon extension...LIVE...passes (next two weekends)

[Bill Monroe]

States recommend two more weekends in the estuary...will decide this afternoon whether Thursday-Saturday or Friday Sunday this weekend and next.

Stay tuned.

[Bill Monroe]

3:30...Waiting to begin.
Need just a few more minutes for others to sign on.
Oregon (Steve Williams) and Washington (Bill Tweit) are on...assorted charters, shops and others joining.

[Bill Monroe]

3:32...Meeting begins. Williams presides.

Introductions by Williams and Tweit.

John North from Oregon starts staff report.

[Bill Monroe]

Says 15,529 legal sturgeon are available for this year, but only about 11,400 have been caught, leaving 4,100.

[Bill Monroe]

Catch rates actually went down from 350 to 325 the first few days of July when they should have gone up (could get up more than 600 per day in typical July).

Two options are July 9-11 and July 16-18 or July 10-12 and 17-19...Thursday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday.

Same limits, sizes, etc.

Staff thinks will still have an unused balance of 1,100 to 1,350, which is a buffer they think advisable.

May meet again July 21 to see whether can do another few days.

(Big fall season compact meeting is in Astoria July 29.)

[Bill Monroe]

Question time from Tweit and Williams...

Few questions.

[Bill Monroe]

Tweit wonders about the level of uncertainty in the estimate of so-far caught.

North says staffs think it's pretty close.

Washington staffer (Brad) adds estimates are calculated in more than one way and seem to corroborate each other.

[Bill Monroe]

Opens for public testimony.

Butch Smith would prefer Thursday-Saturday cuz it is a lower catch and more chances to extend again.

Steve Watrous wants Friday-Sunday to give more anglers more chances.

Ole (Tiki Charters)
Simply says Option one

Sheila Cannon (may have hung up)

Anyone else?

[Bill Monroe]

Hearing none, Williams and Tweit discuss.

Tweit asks staff about last year's schedule.

Brad says last year went through June 24, with three more fishing periods in July...first two Thursday-Saturday and final was Saturday-Sunday when the guideline was reached.

2007 ran through July 4 without additional time.

[Bill Monroe]

Williams has no questions, so asks what Tweit wants to do.

Tweit says it's just a social question. No danger of going over.

Went one way last year, we ought to go the other way this year. Gives equal weight to both sides over time.

Williams says had a debate last year about the approach. Personally likes option with two weekend days.

(Dog barks somewhere)

Williams says catches are the same (250-fish difference isn't much).

[Bill Monroe]

Tweit moves for option two...Friday-Sunday next two weekends.
Williams seconds...

Yada, yada and yo ho ho...

Over and out.

[fyshndad]

Thanks Bill
I may have to trailer up to the CR and see about gettin a couple to smoke & can up

[Crash the Net]

Originally Posted by Bill Monroe

Tweit moves for option two...Friday-Sunday next two weekends.
Williams seconds...

Yada, yada and yo ho ho...

Over and out.

Thanks for the live updates, Bill!

[TJ Hooker]

So, I am a little behind the 8-ball on this one.......is this a done deal then?

[Bill Monroe]

Done deal.

[QH's Paw]

Thanks Bill.
Now we just gotta hope some fish pulled in to cooperate.
Only keeper we got the last Thurday was a male crab.

[crazyinoregon]

Originally Posted by QH's Paw

Thanks Bill.
Now we just gotta hope some fish pulled in to cooperate.
Only keeper we got the last Thurday was a male crab.

no kidding. we went last sunday and it was horrible fishing. there were some jumpers but no biters for about six boats.

[Seefood Man]

Originally Posted by QH's Paw

Thanks Bill.
Now we just gotta hope some fish pulled in to cooperate.
Only keeper we got the last Thurday was a male crab.

You got all the keepers you can handle, Chris & Shelby.
Anything above and beyond will be up to me

[radderbehuntin]

We are still on the fence. We want to go but afraid of the same results. 2 days 2 rods 2 shakers!!

[Born to be Wild]

You ever considered moon lighting as a court reporter Bill?

Columbia River Fishery Notice

JointState Action

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife July 7, 2009

JointState Action

In joint Oregon and Washington state action the states discussed the following mainstem Columbia non-Indian sport fisheries and took the following actions:

2009 Lower Columbia River Sturgeon Sport Fishery

Below Wauna Powerlines

In the mainstem Columbia River from the Wauna powerlines (River Mile 40) downstream to the mouth at Buoy 10, including Youngs Bay; and all adjacent Washington tributaries:

Ø Allow retention of white sturgeon three days per week on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during July 10 through July 12, 2009 and July 17 through July 19, 2009 with a 41-inch minimum fork length and 54-inch maximum fork length limit in effect.
Ø Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited as per permanent regulations.
· Catch limits and other restrictions listed in the current 2009 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations pamphlet remain in effect the entire year.

FUTURE MEETINGS

· A Joint State hearing is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday July 21, 2009 to review catch rates in the estuary recreational white sturgeon fishery and consider additional fishing opportunity.
· The treaty tribes may request a Compact hearing next week to consider additional treaty commercial fishing periods.
· A fall Compact hearing is scheduled for July 29, 2009 at 10:00 AM at the Seafood Consumer Center, located at 2021 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Astoria, Oregon.
· For information concerning these decisions see the July 7, 2009 Summer Fact Sheet #7 at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/OSCRP/CRM/fact_sheets.asp