ODFW News: 2004 Columbia Sturgeon Seasons

[Pete]

For Immediate Release Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004

2004 Sturgeon Sport Fishery Set for Columbia and Willamette rivers

SALEM - The states of Oregon and Washington today approved the following rule changes for the 2004 sturgeon sport fisheries on the Columbia and Willamette rivers.
Above Wauna powerlines
In the mainstem Columbia River from Wauna powerlines (river mile 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam, all adjacent Washington tributaries, and the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls (including Multnomah Channel):

- Allow retention of sturgeon seven days a week through Saturday, Jan. 31.
-Allow retention of sturgeon three days a week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) Feb. 1-July 31, and Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
- Prohibit the retention of sturgeon four days a week (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) Feb. 1-July 31, and Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
- Prohibit the retention of sturgeon seven days a week Aug. 1-Sept. 30. Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during retention closures.


Below Wauna powerlines
In the mainstem Columbia River from Wauna powerlines (river mile 40) downstream to the mouth at Buoy 10, including Youngs Bay and all adjacent Washington tributaries:
- Allow retention of sturgeon seven days a week through April 30, and May 15-July 23.
- Increase minimum size limit from 42" to 45" during the May 15-July 23 retention season.
- Prohibit the retention of sturgeon seven days a week May 1-May 14, and July 24-Dec. 31.

Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during retention closures.

*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.


* Retention seasons are expectations based on current modeling. Catches will be tracked in-season and reviewed in July. Modifications will be made if necessary to remain within catch guidelines.

Future meetings

* The next Compact hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. at the Museum of the Oregon Territory in Oregon City to review salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and smelt stock status; consider fishing options in the mainstem Columbia River and select areas; and consider miscellaneous regulations for Columbia River commercial fisheries.

* A joint state meeting to consider spring chinook sport fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River is scheduled to occur immediately following the Feb. 5 Compact hearing.

[slabhunter]

Pete, Didn't they change the location of the Feb. 5 meeting?

[Dinikin]

Thank you for that information.
Can someone post basic lenght requirements for past 30 years. approximately,
I remember bout 7 years ago or so, it was 40-72"
good all day.
Moors law for for computer speed, is that performace increases twice in about couple of years.
I quees for sturgeon, every couple of years we will be allowed to catch twice less.
I better make some pics of sturgeon so my grandkids can believe that I was allowed to fish for them.

[Pete]

The February 5th Columbia River Compact meeting has been scheduled for the Oregon Territory museum all along.

The February 6th ODFW Commission meeting will be at the Sportsman's show. I think that has been scheduled for there all along, too.

[slabhunter]

You are correct. My mistake. :blush:

[Beefcake]

Thanks Pete! I was planning to check out the ODFW website tomorrow to see if they had decided the seasons yet.

Overall, the rules could be worse...

[fish_on]

Anyone want to bet if we will actually get a fall/winter season after the charters clean out the estuary. Less retention tags and less fishing days + more $ for tag and licence = less fish/$. This year I will harvest my 5 fish and that will be more sturgeon than I have kept any other year, with these rules you better keep all your allowed you never know when they'll let you fish again.

[Rip'N'Lips]

Dinikin-

Keep in mind that all of these changes are attempts to keep the fish long enough for your grandkids to have an opportunity to fish as well. If the fish aren't there in the numbers they suspected, why allow retention?

How many sturgeon do you really need in a year? I eat tons of fish, and got 6 keepers in the estuary last year. Still have some left. 5 is plenty if you can offset it with some salmon.

As for the size change, I would of thought moving the upper limit down 3 inches would of had a more favorable result as those are the fish closest to sexual maturity.

Rip'N'Lips

[glowball]

All this is for not if we don't limit what the nets are taking from the river. Does anyone know what changes have been made to their seasons?

Kris

[Pete]

The nets get 20%, sports get 80%. I believe any bi-catch during other fisheries is included in the 20%. The biggest problem is the huge increase in sports effort on these fish.

[Lured In]

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

Compared to last year, I like what I see.

There is no mention as to what the final split of the 30,000 fish quota was between uppper and lower. Also no mention of changes to the oversize estuary.

Anybody know?

Looks like ODFW/WDFW lined up pretty closely with the survey that was run. Good to see they were listening.

[Tacklebuster]

Daddy likes [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

I would have rather seen the size limit decrease to 55 instead of increase to 45 but if that's all I have to complain about then it's going to be an awesome year

[ 01-18-2004, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

[slabhunter]

Tacklebuster, I like you would have prefered the shorter fish retention. The recruitment of spawners is the key to the future of the fishery. At the meeting in Vancouver it seemed to me that the decision had already been made. So I didn't sign up to testify. I came to fish here because the Chehalis system is no longer an option(very few keeper size.) Now I see the same things happening. I doubt that when retirement comes that I will be fishing. No wonder there are fewer licensed sportfishers.

[Pete]

Oversize will be on the agend at the ODFW Commission meeting on February 6th at the Sportsman's show. There was a staff briefing on the Oversize fishery at the January 9th Commission meeting. I do know there are very serious concerns about the rapidly growing pressure on the oversize fish during their spawning period. I suspect there will be changes affecting both the deadline for boaters and the bank access below Bonneville.

[ 01-16-2004, 04:08 PM: Message edited by: Pete ]

[ 01-18-2004, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

[fishchaser]

I swear all they are doing is confusing you so that NO ONE will fish for them. It's not going to stop me. NO WAY!! I love to fish weather I can keep them or not. :tongue:

[Pete]

The initial sport split is 18000 below Wauna and 12000 above Wauna with the remainder split for inseason adjustment. With the slot size change, the allowable catch will be adjusted to 15000 below Wauna.

[Dinikin]

Originally posted by Rip'N'Lips:
Dinikin-

Keep in mind that all of these changes are attempts to keep the fish long enough for your grandkids to have an opportunity to fish as well. If the fish aren't there in the numbers they suspected, why allow retention?

How many sturgeon do you really need in a year? I eat tons of fish, and got 6 keepers in the estuary last year. Still have some left. 5 is plenty if you can offset it with some salmon.

As for the size change, I would of thought moving the upper limit down 3 inches would of had a more favorable result as those are the fish closest to sexual maturity.

Rip'N'Lips

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I believe that fishing for sturgeon and salmon is a something that many people take for granted.
Most of other countries have sturgeon and salmon as endangered species, and people are prohibited to fish them.
The point that I was getting to is: That great resource is getting depleted. I like to analyze things and simply see how with the rate sturgeon restricions are developed, that it will not be long when wishing for sturgeon mights stop.
Sturgeon hatcheries anyone? Someone invest in it and will make tons of money.
I have a big family, and not many are fishing. Believe me,non of the fish goes to waste.

[garyk]

So if - "The biggest problem is the huge increase in sports effort on these fish." -- does it make any sense to have (or allow) stores to run 'contests' promoting even more kill of this fully utilized fishery?