halibut /sturgeon seasons

[CAGEY]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 872-5700

For Immediate Release Tuesday, September 17, 2002

ODFW announces changes to halibut, sturgeon seasons

PORTLAND - Fishery managers recently announced changes to the Columbia River sport sturgeon and ocean halibut seasons that give anglers additional fishing opportunities.

Halibut anglers may fish at all depths from Wednesday, Sept. 18 through Saturday, Sept. 21, between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain. The National Marine Fisheries Service announced Monday that the late-September all-depth fishery would have two extra days. Other halibut seasons remain open off the Oregon coast through Sept. 30. The rules are found in the 2002 Oregon Ocean Salmon and Halibut Sport Fishing Regulations.

Sport sturgeon seasons in the Columbia River will re-open to the retention of sturgeon below Bonneville Dam and in the Bonneville Pool later this year. The seasons are:

-Columbia River mouth upstream to Bonneville Dam, including Youngs Bay: Sturgeon retention will be allowed beginning Saturday, Nov. 23, through Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002. Catch limits and other restrictions listed in the 2002 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations remain unchanged.

-Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam (Bonneville Pool): Sturgeon retention will be allowed effective Saturday, Sept. 28, through Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002. Biologists reassessed the catch and determined that 280 sturgeon remain on the catch quota. Catch limits and other restrictions listed in the 2002 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations remain unchanged.

-The Dalles Dam to McNary Dam: Sturgeon retention remains prohibited because the quotas have been reached. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed through Dec. 31, 2002.