[ODFW-News] Halibut, sturgeon season changes

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09
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:=20

-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.=20

-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.=20

-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.=20
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