Sturgeon Survey says.... :)

Jennie@ifish · 12-01-2003, 01:15 PM

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission wants to hear from YOU about the options for sturgeon retention in the Columbia River.
Dennis Hull has put together a survey on his website, to help get the voice of the fishermen heard. The link below is a form for your input. We, at ifish have done some good work and provided some awesome input for our fisheries. It would be cool to let them know where we are all coming from when you fill out the survey. I'm signing mine, Jennie Logsdon Martin, at www.ifish.net. I want those people to "shiver me timbers" when they hear the force behind ifish!
Thanks, Dennis for putting this up! :smile:

Jen
Do your part! Fill out the survey!

Biteme · 12-01-2003, 01:56 PM

Thanks Jennie
I have sent this out to all of my contacts as well as many of the guides I know and they are doing the same. This is going to be interesting. I will post all the results when it is done. I also would like to thank everyone that filled it out your input is greatly appreciated and will be presented to both ODFW and WDFW

Thanks again

Pete · 12-01-2003, 02:04 PM

From the ODFW web site:

Agenda Item Summary

BACKGROUND

During October - December 2002 staff presented to the Commission a 2003-2005 3-year plan for management of lower Columbia sturgeon sport and commercial fisheries. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted similar discussions with their Commission. Final negotiations for 2003-2005 sturgeon management were delegated to the Directors of the respective departments.

The two agencies concurred upon a Joint State Fishery Management Agreement for 2003-2005 except that the actual sport seasons for retention of sturgeon was agreed upon for 2003 only. Thus retention seasons for 2004 and 2005 need to be developed and implemented in the next several months. A Joint State hearing has been scheduled for 10:00 am, January 7, 2004 at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, Washington to adopt concurrent Oregon and Washington regulations for the lower Columbia, lower Willamette, and Youngs Bay sport sturgeon fisheries.

Guidance from the Commission at the December 12, 2003 meeting is necessary for the Oregon staff to complete negotiations with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

2003 - 2005 Adopted Management Guidelines

� During 2003-2005, sturgeon fisheries between the Columbia River mouth and Bonneville Dam are guided by a Joint State Sturgeon Fishery Management Agreement adopted by the Oregon and Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissions and the Columbia River Compact, as has been the case since 1997. The major tenets of the Joint State Agreement include:
�� Sturgeon fisheries are managed on an optimum sustained yield approach which, absent a significant update, results in an annual harvestable number of 40,000 white sturgeon for 2003-2005.
�� The harvestable number is to be allocated 80% (32,000 fish) sport and 20% (8,000 fish) commercial.
�� Sport fishery regulations include; size limits of 42"-60" for white and green sturgeon, one sturgeon per day and ten sturgeon per year catch limits, and barbless hooks required.
Note: The annual bag limit has been reduced to 5 fish for the 2004 and beyond fisheries.
� In conjunction with the re-adoption of all major tenets of the Joint State Sturgeon Fishery Management Agreement, the Oregon and Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissions also directed staff to develop sport fishing regulations that are consistent with the following objectives:
�� Minimize emergency inseason action.
�� Balance catch between estuary and non-estuary fisheries and maintain a diverse array of sturgeon fishing opportunity.
�� Maintain fishery monitoring and management capabilities.

2003 Sport Fishery Management Agreement

In February of 2003 ODFW and WDFW reached consensus on the following sport fishery structure for 2003.
� Annual catch quota of 32,000 white sturgeon with a 30,000 fish management goal in effect for 2003-05 to allow inseason flexibility and minimize need for emergency inseason regulation changes.
� One year agreement.
� Season structure as follows:
Gorge Area - Above Wauna Quota - 12,000 (40%)
Retention Seasons....... Non-retention season
January 1 - March 23..... March 24 - June 30
July 1 - December 31

Estuary Area - Below Wauna Quota - 18,000 (60%)
Retention Seasons......... Non-retention Season
January 1 - July 9........ July 10 - September 30
October 1 - December 31

� Lower Willamette, including Multnomah Channel, and Youngs Bay are included in this regulation package
� Initiate planning for longer term sport management framework in the fall of 2003 involving all stakeholders
� Effective 2004 a five sturgeon annual catch limit will be in effect for both Oregon and Washington anglers.

Review of the 2003 Lower Columbia Recreational Sturgeon Fishery

The expectations for a year-round sturgeon sport fishery on the lower Columbia River in 2003 were for a retained catch of up to 50,000 white sturgeon from as many as 250,000 angler trips. A catch of 50,000 white sturgeon would exceed the 2003-05 annual white sturgeon sport catch guideline of 32,000 fish; therefore the Oregon and Washington Joint Sturgeon Staff developed options to maintain the fishery to a catch of 30,000, not to exceed 32,000 fish. During the late fall of 2002 and early winter of 2003, the Joint Staff met with sport fishing industry representatives to craft fishery proposals for 2003. Sport fishery options were considered and adopted at the February 6 Joint State hearing where the states adopted regulations for 2003.

The regulations established a harvest guideline of 18,000 white sturgeon for the Columbia River below Wauna (RM 40) with a retention prohibition during July 10- September 30, and a guideline of 12,000 white sturgeon for the Columbia River above Wauna with a retention prohibition during March 24-June 30. A 2,000-fish buffer was not allocated and kept in reserve to allow for orderly management changes as necessary to prevent exceeding either guideline.

The sport sturgeon fishery initially began as expected with a moderate catch of 4,338 white sturgeon above Wauna prior to the March 24 retention prohibition and a very small catch of 73 white sturgeon below Wauna prior to May when the estuary fishery begins in earnest. In May the estuary catch totaled 4,101, which was the highest catch for that month since 1998, and by early June it became apparent that the fishery below Wauna would exceed the catch expectation of 18,000 well before July 10. On June 20 at a Joint State sport hearing, the states prohibited the retention of sturgeon below Wauna effective June 28. The cumulative catch for the fishery below Wauna for January 1 through June 27 was 18,367 white sturgeon from 46,568 angler trips, slightly exceeding the 18,000 inseason management catch guideline.

The sport sturgeon season above Wauna reopened to the retention of sturgeon on July 1 and through August 31 an additional 2,473 white sturgeon were caught and retained. During September catch rates increased significantly in the Gorge area especially for bank anglers. The sturgeon catch for September totaled 3,112, which was three times the expected catch for the month. Catch rates in the Gorge were expected to remain strong into October, and on September 23, managers prohibited the retention of sturgeon above Wauna effective November 1 through December 31. The preliminary total catch for the area above Wauna was 13,565 from 96,296 angler trips exceeding somewhat the 12,000 inseason management catch guideline.

Managers also did not reopen the fishery below Wauna on October 1 as previously scheduled. The ongoing retention prohibition was extended through December 31 because the 18,000 fish guideline was taken during the summer fishery. The preliminary total catch estimate for the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam in 2003 was 31,932 white sturgeon (compared to the 32,000 annual catch limit) and 52 green sturgeon from 142,864 angler trips.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The Joint Sturgeon Staff hosted a public meeting November 11, 2003 in Clackamas. About 15 attendees representing several of the diverse sturgeon fisheries of the lower Columbia presented options for 2004 and 2005 for staff to analyize.

Sport sturgeon fishery management was discussed at the initial meeting of the newly-formed Columbia River Recreational Fishing Advisory Group on November 20, 2003.

Public Testimony will be taken at the December 12, 2003 Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting in Salem as well as at the January 7, 2004 Joint State sport hearing in Vancouver, Washington.

ISSUE 1
2004 - 2005 Lower Columbia River Sturgeon Sport Fishery Options

ANALYSIS
Several options consistent with the 2003 - 2005 adopted management guidelines have been analyzed by the Joint Sturgeon Staff.

Pete · 12-01-2003, 02:56 PM

Here is the Staff Summary of the Options ...

Lower Columbia Sport Sturgeon Fishery

A summary of the public meeting concerning 2004-2005 fishery regulations and analysis of proposed fishery options for 2004-2005

A public meeting was held on November 11, 2003 at the ODFW's NW Region office in Clackamas, Oregon. The purpose of the meeting was to review sport sturgeon management guidelines, review results of the 2003 lower Columbia River sturgeon sport fishery, and develop alternative fishing options for 2004-2005. About 15-20 members of the public attended the meeting with the majority of the participants representing tackle distributors and manufacturers, operating moorages and tackles shops, or operating professional guide services. Several private boat anglers were in attendance also.

Discussion at the meeting focused primarily on sport fishing options for consideration in 2004 and 2005 with several options being proposed at this meeting. The proposed options were not supported by the entire group but were options that portions of the group wanted to see modeled with respect to duration of retention and non- retention time periods plus associated catch and effort estimates. The Joint Staff has completed modeling exercises that estimate catch and effort for each of the following options. It should be noted that modeling outputs are based on a large number of assumptions and actual results of enacting these options will likely vary from modeled results with respect to catch, effort,and number of days in which sturgeon retention is allowed.

Proposed Options:
1. In the area upstream of Wauna, manage on a days-per-week basis the entire year.
2. In the area upstream of Wauna, the non-retention season should occur in the fall rather than the spring for a seasonal retention strategy.
3. In the area upstream of Wauna, use a combination of the seasonal and days-per-week approaches with the non-retention season occurring during the fall (August 1-September 15) and the days-per-week strategy occurring during the remainder of the year.
4. In the area downstream of Wauna, the first non-retention period should be the month of May and the retention season that reopens on June 1 should extend as far into July as possible.
5. In the area downstream of Wauna, increase the minimum size limit when some or all of the catch guideline has been landed.
6. In the area downstream of Bonneville Dam, consider different minimum and/or maximum size limits.

The ODFW sturgeon staff will be working with the WDFW sturgeon staff to develop an additional option for consideration that will be consistent with the seasonal structure used in 2003. This option will also be considered at the December 12, 2003 meeting of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and results of the Joint Staff analysis of this option will be available prior to this meeting.

Modeling Assumptions:
� The catch quota is 32,000 white sturgeon; however, fisheries will be managed inseason for a catch of 30,000 white sturgeon.
� The 30,000 white sturgeon catch guideline is allocated 40% to the area upstream of Wauna (12,000 fish) and 60% to the area downstream of Wauna (18,000 fish).
� Catch limits are one sturgeon per day between 42-60" and five sturgeon per year.
� Monthly catch and effort estimates used in previous modeling exercises (2002) were modified based on data collected from 2003 fisheries. The major changes in estimates consisted of significant increases in both catch and effort in the area upstream of Wauna during September through November and in the area downstream of Wauna during June and July.
� Models do not incorporate regulation changes that could occur as a result of regulating the current oversize sport fishery that occurs in the gorge each spring.

Option 1
Location: Upstream of the Wauna powerlines
Regulation: Allow the retention of white sturgeon three days per week (Sun-Tue or Thu-Sat)during January 1-December 31
Catch: Kept Catch = 15,000
Effort: Angler Trips = 116,400
� An additional seasonal retention restriction would likely be required to maintain catches to within the 12,000 fish catch guideline.
� If the retention restriction was modified to allow retention two days per week (Sun-Mon or Fri-Sat) catch and effort would total 8,100 white sturgeon and 71,600 angler trips.
� This analysis assumed that retention is allowed below Wauna during May; however, if this is not the case then catch and effort above Wauna during May would likely increase by 1,100 white sturgeon and 5,800 angler trips.

Option 2:
Location: Upstream of the Wauna powerlines
Regulation: Allow retention of white sturgeon seven days per week during January 1-July 31 and December 13-31
Catch: Kept Catch = 12,000
Effort: Angler Trips = 90,700
� If the retention restriction was initiated July 1 then retention would be allowed during January 1-June 30 and November 29-December 31. Catch and effort would total 12,000 white sturgeon and 87,100 angler trips.
� If the retention restriction was initiated June 1 then retention would be allowed during January 1-May 31 and November 22-December 31. Catch and effort would total 12,000 white sturgeon and 79,900 angler trips.
� This analysis assumed that retention is allowed below Wauna during May; however, if this is not the case then catch and effort above Wauna during May would likely increase by 1,100 white sturgeon and 5,800 angler trips.

Option 3:
Location: Upstream of the Wauna powerlines
Regulation: Allow the retention of white sturgeon three days per week (Sun-Tue or Thu-Sat) during January 1-July 31 and September 16-December 31
Catch: Kept Catch = 13,300
Effort: Angler Trips = 100,400
� An additional seasonal retention restriction would likely be required to maintain catches to within the 12,000 fish catch guideline.
� This analysis assumed that retention is allowed below Wauna during May; however, if this is not the case then catch and effort above Wauna during May would likely increase by 800 white sturgeon and 4,100 angler trips.

Option 4:
Location: Downstream of the Wauna powerlines
Regulation: Allow the retention of white sturgeon seven days per week during January 1-April 30 and June 1-July 3
Catch: Kept Catch = 18,300
Effort: Angler Trips = 39,100
� If the retention was allowed for one additional day (Sunday July 4) catch and effort would total 18,800 white sturgeon and 40,100 angler trips.

Option 5:
Location: Downstream of the Wauna powerlines
Regulation: Increase minimum size limit to 48" when total catch reaches 12,000 white sturgeon kept
Catch: Kept Catch = 14,800
Effort: Angler Trips = 52,700
� The catch quota for inseason management below Wauna would change from 18,000 white sturgeon to 14,800 white sturgeon.
� Expected date that minimum size limit would increase to 48" is June 16.
� Expected retention days would be January 1-July 9.
� If the retention were allowed for two additional days (through Sunday July 11) catch and
effort would total 15,000 white sturgeon and 54,700 angler trips.

Option 6 (Increase Minimum):
Location: Downstream of Bonneville Dam
Regulation: Increase minimum size limit to 48" throughout the duration of the fishery
Catch: Kept Catch = 14,300 (5,300 above Wauna and 9,000 below Wauna)
Effort: Angler Trips = 270,100 (178,200 above Wauna and 91,900 below Wauna)
� The catch quota for inseason management would change from 30,000 white sturgeon to 15,000 white sturgeon and would be allocated 40% for above Wauna (6,000 fish) and 60% for below Wauna (9,000 fish).
� Expected retention days would be January 1-December 31 for the entire Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam.

Option 6 (Decrease Maximum):
Location: Downstream of Bonneville Dam
Regulation: Decrease maximum size limit to 54" throughout the duration of the fishery
Catch: Kept Catch = 34,900 (13,800 above Wauna and 21,100 below Wauna)
Effort: Angler Trips = 155,100 (107,600 above Wauna and 47,500 below Wauna)
� The catch quota for inseason management would change from 30,000 white sturgeon to 35,600 white sturgeon and would be allocated 40% for above Wauna (14,200 fish) and 60% for below Wauna (21,400 fish).
� Expected retention days would be January 1-July 31 and November 1-December 31 above Wauna and January 1-July 4 below Wauna.

TheRogue · 12-01-2003, 02:58 PM

Sent mine on!!

Stressed a better split for upper river (PDX), this is where the money is, keeping it open longer makes good $$$ and sense (pun intended).

Still up in the air about oversize...don't know how I'd vote in an election on that one.

TR

TheRogue · 12-01-2003, 03:00 PM

Would also like to see a Tuesday Thursday Sunday closure for retention only.

TR

[ 12-01-2003, 04:01 PM: Message edited by: TheRogue ]

Lured In · 12-01-2003, 03:38 PM

Survey and letter sent. Thanks for the heads up and to Dennis for setting up the survey.

Biteme · 12-01-2003, 05:19 PM

results are flying in keep em coming

Bump to top

Highball · 12-01-2003, 05:46 PM

Survey and letter sent. Keep um coming.

Livin the Dream · 12-01-2003, 06:45 PM

Survey and letter are done.
Thanks!!
Keep em coming.......

AL

Freakwater · 12-01-2003, 07:09 PM

Sent mine.
Thanks for the heads up!

Sturgeon Tom · 12-01-2003, 07:42 PM

Sent my in.
Equal numbers for upper and lower river.
No closure for the oversize fishing.
st

KingFisher85 · 12-01-2003, 08:46 PM

I took the Survey

Small Fry · 12-01-2003, 08:53 PM

I feel like someone is Finaly listening! Thanks

[ 12-01-2003, 09:53 PM: Message edited by: Small Fry ]

Rubber Hooks · 12-02-2003, 06:05 AM

Sent mine in. I hope this gets the ODFW's attention that Oregon anglers dont like being told by WDFW on where and when to fish for Sturgeon, especially in Oregon rivers, ( Willamette, Multnomah channel). The ODFW should stick up for us.
Rubber Hooks

Biteme · 12-02-2003, 08:13 AM

I have tallied the second batch and added to the first - around 300 results.

Oregon results:
favorite sturgeon fishery
portland keepers - 70%
Astoria keepers - 25%
oversized - 5%

Close oversized or move deadline
support - 28%
do not support - 28%
support other less drastic measures - 44%

Bank fishing in Sanctuary
allow it to remain open - 32%
close it to both boat and bank - 68%

Does ODFW do a good job representing sport fisherman
yes - 20%
No - 60%
undecided - 20%

Block or days of the week closures
Block - 37%
days of week - 63%

split or river wide quota
split - 59%
river wide - 41%

If split quota how should numbers of fish be split
equally between both - 56%
upper gets more - 20%
lower gets more - 24%

biggest impact on keeper numbers ( this wont suprise anyone)
recreational fisherman - 12%
Oversized sturgeon fishing - 4%
gill nets - 84%

Washington Results:
favorite sturgeon fishery
portland keepers - 70%
Astoria keepers - 30%
oversized - 0%

Close oversized or move deadline
support - 31%
do not support - 31%
support other less drastic measures - 38%

Bank fishing in Sanctuary
allow it to remain open - 26%
close it to both boat and bank - 74%

Does WDFW do a good job representing sport fisherman
yes - 19%
No - 60%
undecided - 21%

Block or days of the week closures
Block - 50%
days of week - 50%

split or river wide quota
split - 68%
river wide - 32%

If split quota how should numbers of fish be split
equally between both - 53%
upper gets more - 23%
lower gets more - 24%

biggest impact on keeper numbers ( this wont suprise anyone)
recreational fisherman - 12%
Oversized sturgeon fishing - 12%
gill nets - 76%

[ 12-04-2003, 09:31 AM: Message edited by: Biteme ]

bassin · 12-02-2003, 08:46 AM

Sent mine in, With a long letter. Hope it helps.

Biteme · 12-02-2003, 02:08 PM

back to the top

TonTo · 12-02-2003, 05:15 PM

Survey submitted,thank you for passing this along.
I like option #6(increase minimum) ,48"-60" year round, if I'm only alowed 5 fish a year they might as well be worth keeping.
Just my thoughts.

Gun Rod Bow · 12-02-2003, 05:20 PM

While I'm not a big sturgeon fan, all fishers must stick together. I did the survey and sent a letter.

love2fish · 12-02-2003, 05:33 PM

Just submitted mine. I'm also going to email the form to a few friends.

love2fish

Beefcake · 12-02-2003, 11:29 PM

Dennis- Got this in my email the other day, and finally had time to reply tonight. Thank you for taking the time to organize this poll and submit our letters. I'm glad someone is looking out for us little guys.

As for the poll results posted, I agree across the board. I also agree with TonTo: I would rather see a minimum size increase than a 5 per-year bag limit. Anyone that agrees, please take time to take the survey and write a letter. Dennis has made this format very easy to respond for those of us who are sometimes too lazy to write to ODFW to express our concerns.

[ 12-03-2003, 12:31 AM: Message edited by: Beefcake ]

Lwagg2 · 12-02-2003, 11:48 PM

Thanks Dennis and I was sure to get my 2 cents :shocked:

fishfinderswife · 12-03-2003, 08:35 AM

Sent mine - hope it helps, put a letter in with mine. Good luck.

Biteme · 12-03-2003, 09:03 AM

great job all. some very interesting comments and very good input. Keep em coming I will update the results as soon as i get the new ones added in. We still need more business input.

Born to Fish · 12-03-2003, 05:10 PM

Dennis, thanks for putting this together and providing an opportunity for our input. I threw my 2-cents into the pot for whatever it's worth.

Even though I only get in two days of sturgeon fishing on the lower Columbia each year, that time is precious to me and my sons.

Dean

[ 12-03-2003, 06:15 PM: Message edited by: Born to Fish ]

Biteme · 12-04-2003, 04:52 AM

bump to top

Biteme · 12-04-2003, 08:16 AM

Keep em coming we still need many many more

farm5 · 12-04-2003, 02:05 PM

What have the sturgeon quotas been in past years?

FINZ · 12-04-2003, 02:36 PM

I sent mine in. Hope we can make a difference together.

roadsend · 12-04-2003, 07:14 PM

Why not a days of the week retention closure on the entire river?

Requiring the angler to chose a tag good either above or below Wauna but not both would help to even out the pressure.