04-29-2004, 12:04 AM
[size 2]Columbia River sturgeon angling closes Saturday between Beacon Rock and Bonneville Dam
SALEM - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reminded anglers today that a 3.5 mile area of the Columbia River between Beacon Rock and Bonneville Dam is closed to all sturgeon angling Saturday, May 1 - Saturday, July 31. The rule change was agreed to and adopted by the states of Oregon and Washington earlier in the year.
In addition, anglers may not retain legal sized sturgeon below the Wauna Powerlines in the Columbia River estuary May 1 - 14. However, catch and release angling may continue. On May 15, the area downstream of the Wauna Powerlines reopens to retention with a 45-inch minimum size limit.
The closure to all sturgeon angling in the Bonneville Dam-area sanctuary, including catch and release angling, was adopted to protect broodstock sturgeon that use the area below Bonneville Dam for spawning. Research by Oregon State University and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife shows that about 2,000 fish of reproductive age reside in the area. These fish exhibit stress when caught and many exhibit evidence of being caught multiple times. White sturgeon do not begin reproducing until they exceed 60 inches, which takes about 20 years. They can live to be older than 100 years.
The current rules governing sturgeon angling in the Columbia River
are:
-Buoy 10 upstream to Wauna Powerlines, including Youngs Bay and adjacent Washington tributaries:
The current daily bag limit is one fish 42-60 inches in total length. Effective May 1-14, this section of the Columbia River is closed to the retention of sturgeon. Effective Saturday, May 15, through Friday, July 23, the area is open for retention of sturgeon 45-60 inches in length. Catch and release fishing is allowed during retention closures. This area is managed for a 15,000 fish quota specific retention dates may be adjusted to meet the quota.
-Wauna Powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam, including all adjacent Washington tributaries, Multnomah Channel and the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls: The current daily bag limit is one fish 42-60 inches in total length. Effective May 1-July 31, both boat and bank angling for sturgeon from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam is prohibited. In the remainder of the area, the river is open for sturgeon retention Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Saturday, July 31 and Friday, Oct. 1 - Friday, Dec. 31, 2004. Catch and release of sturgeon fishing may continue during sturgeon retention closures, except May 1-July 31 in the area from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam when catch and release fishing is prohibited. The fishery will be managed for a 12,000 fish quota in this section of the Columbia River and specific retention dates may be adjusted to meet the quota.
-Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam:
The Bonneville Pool is currently open to the retention of sturgeon.
The daily bag limit is one fish 42-60 inches in total length. The annual catch guideline for the Bonneville Pool is 700 white sturgeon.
-The Dalles Dam upstream to McNary Dam:
The Dalles Pool and the John Day Pool are currently open to the retention of sturgeon. The daily bag limit is one fish 48-60 inches in total length. The annual catch guidelines for The Dalles and John Day pools are 400 and 165 white sturgeon, respectively.[/size]
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SALEM - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reminded anglers today that a 3.5 mile area of the Columbia River between Beacon Rock and Bonneville Dam is closed to all sturgeon angling Saturday, May 1 - Saturday, July 31. The rule change was agreed to and adopted by the states of Oregon and Washington earlier in the year.
In addition, anglers may not retain legal sized sturgeon below the Wauna Powerlines in the Columbia River estuary May 1 - 14. However, catch and release angling may continue. On May 15, the area downstream of the Wauna Powerlines reopens to retention with a 45-inch minimum size limit.
The closure to all sturgeon angling in the Bonneville Dam-area sanctuary, including catch and release angling, was adopted to protect broodstock sturgeon that use the area below Bonneville Dam for spawning. Research by Oregon State University and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife shows that about 2,000 fish of reproductive age reside in the area. These fish exhibit stress when caught and many exhibit evidence of being caught multiple times. White sturgeon do not begin reproducing until they exceed 60 inches, which takes about 20 years. They can live to be older than 100 years.
The current rules governing sturgeon angling in the Columbia River
are:
-Buoy 10 upstream to Wauna Powerlines, including Youngs Bay and adjacent Washington tributaries:
The current daily bag limit is one fish 42-60 inches in total length. Effective May 1-14, this section of the Columbia River is closed to the retention of sturgeon. Effective Saturday, May 15, through Friday, July 23, the area is open for retention of sturgeon 45-60 inches in length. Catch and release fishing is allowed during retention closures. This area is managed for a 15,000 fish quota specific retention dates may be adjusted to meet the quota.
-Wauna Powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam, including all adjacent Washington tributaries, Multnomah Channel and the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls: The current daily bag limit is one fish 42-60 inches in total length. Effective May 1-July 31, both boat and bank angling for sturgeon from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam is prohibited. In the remainder of the area, the river is open for sturgeon retention Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Saturday, July 31 and Friday, Oct. 1 - Friday, Dec. 31, 2004. Catch and release of sturgeon fishing may continue during sturgeon retention closures, except May 1-July 31 in the area from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam when catch and release fishing is prohibited. The fishery will be managed for a 12,000 fish quota in this section of the Columbia River and specific retention dates may be adjusted to meet the quota.
-Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam:
The Bonneville Pool is currently open to the retention of sturgeon.
The daily bag limit is one fish 42-60 inches in total length. The annual catch guideline for the Bonneville Pool is 700 white sturgeon.
-The Dalles Dam upstream to McNary Dam:
The Dalles Pool and the John Day Pool are currently open to the retention of sturgeon. The daily bag limit is one fish 48-60 inches in total length. The annual catch guidelines for The Dalles and John Day pools are 400 and 165 white sturgeon, respectively.[/size]
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TheAngler BFT Moderator
TheAngler BFT Moderator