Sturgeon season closing?

AngleThis · 02-13-2002, 12:51 PM

I understand that sturgeon is closing from March to May because so many fish have been taken already.
Can anyone confirm this?

DC

Pilar · 02-13-2002, 01:12 PM

Hey DC, I searched the ODFW site and see 3 proposals for the season closure. As far as I can tell they have not decided yet. There was some overkill last year and the harvest limit was exceeded. Because of that, the managers will curtail the season this year even more than last year.

The three proposals involve either block closures or days of the week closures or a combo of both.

Option 1: Block Closure - Prohibit retention of sturgeon in the mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam, including Youngs Bay, April 1 — May 10 and July 25 — Sept. 30, 2002.

Option 2: Daily Closure - Prohibit retention of sturgeon in the mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam, including Youngs Bay, every Sunday and Monday during March 1 — Dec. 31, 2002.

Option 3: Block and Daily Closures - Prohibit retention of sturgeon in the mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam, including Youngs Bay, every Sunday and Monday during March 15 — June 16, 2002, and all days during Aug. 1 — Sept. 30, 2002.

Oregon and Washington fishery managers expect to make a final decision this week.

[ 02-13-2002, 02:14 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

Bait O' Eggs · 02-13-2002, 01:37 PM

It had better not close in March, I plan on bringing in a 59.5 inch Sturgy to the weigh in at the Fishermans Sturgeon Derby on March 2nd. :grin: :grin: Can you say "payday"

WaterDog · 02-13-2002, 04:15 PM

And I plan on bringing a 59.7 inch sturgeon to the weigh in! :tongue: Bigger "payday"!!! :grin:

Of course I guess I'll have to catch one first. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] I hope the guys on my team know what they are in for with me aboard.

jet · 02-13-2002, 05:40 PM

Payday... Payday. If you catch a fish 59.5" sturgeon you can fish on my boat any day, including the sturgeon derby. Hey, you are fishing on my boat for the sturgeon derby. I guess I will have to catch one of those 59.5 inchers also. While we are at it, we will let Waterdog catch one of those too and take the trophy home.

Jet~~~

fishbait · 02-13-2002, 05:54 PM

Hey Roy, way to go on the derby, but sorry you will be behind me this year. Last year I was 4th for big fish and 5th for team. This year we will be "in the money"............. see ya in the winners circle....... It was tough, weighing in with the number 2 fish with 35v min to go and ending up 4th, but I survived............ This year will be diff...........

Great fun at the banquet every year, this year we don't have to drive to Vancouver.............

MPT · 02-13-2002, 07:48 PM

The plans with the day closures would mean that sunday and monday would be closed. The average Joe fisherman who works mon-fri would get stroked out of one of his weekend days of sturgeon retention!

I think the tournament is on a saturday. :whazzup:

Uncle Bob · 02-13-2002, 07:57 PM

a momentary bit of trash talk...

yeah yeah yeah, you pull that 59.5 inch sturgeon in your boat.
And all of a sudden your alarm clock goes off, and you wake up and have to go to work. :grin:

UB

fish_on · 02-13-2002, 09:26 PM

Just to get this clear, the closers will only effect the retention of not the catch and release of sturgeon? More people should practice C&R of keeper size sturgeon, how many have gone to waste freezer burned by people who catch too many. If I have sturgeon in the freezer it is my policy not to keep any keepers untill it is gone. Catching is 99% of the fun anyway realese and catch another day. My $.02 worth.