[ODFW-News] Columbia River sturgeon angling closes Saturday between Beacon Rock and Bonneville

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 947-6009
	

For Immediate Release	Wednesday, April 28, 2004

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.




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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002