New Sturgeon Retention Size Limit

[huntnphool]

Its about time they went to this, I have been writing them for a couple years now.


WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

December 23, 2008
Contact: Brad James, (360) 906-6716


Sturgeon size limits will switch
to 'fork length' measurement

OLYMPIA - Starting New Year's Day, anglers fishing for sturgeon should find the big fish easier to measure for compliance with state size limits.

By mutual agreement, fishery managers in Washington and Oregon have agreed to base official size limits for white sturgeon on "fork length" - the distance between the tip of a fish's nose and the fork in its tail - rather than their full length. 

That change is designed primarily to make it easier to measure thrashing sturgeon, which often run four to five feet in length, said Brad James, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"In most cases, a legal-size fish under the old rules will still be a legal-size fish under the new rules," James said.  "The method of measuring the fish will change, but the size of the fish retained by anglers will remain the same."

The main problem with trying to measure the total length of a sturgeon is that the top lobe of a sturgeon's tail is longer and more flexible than the bottom lobe, James said.  "The new rule eliminates an element of subjectivity that has long been problematic for anglers and fishery managers alike," he said.

An illustration of measuring a sturgeon according to fork length is posted on the WDFW website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/sturgeon/index.html ).

Starting Jan. 1, both the minimum and maximum size limits for retaining white sturgeon will be adjusted to reflect the new "fork-length" measurement.  As under current rules, a maximum size limit will be retained to protect large, breeding female sturgeon.

Under rules currently in effect for most waters of the state, anglers may retain only those white sturgeon with a total length of 42 to 60 inches. Under the new statewide rule, the new standard for legal-size sturgeon will be 38 to 54 inches, measured from a fish's snout to the fork in its tail.

The new 54-inch size maximum limit will be in effect statewide.  However, as under current rules, minimum size limits will vary from the 38-inch statewide standard on certain stretches of the Columbia and Snake rivers.  Effective Jan. 1, new size limits on those rivers will be as follows:

The mouth of the Columbia River upstream to Wauna powerlines near Cathlamet:  New fork-length limit is 38 to 54 inches through April 30.  (Old limit 45 to 60 inches.) 
The Dalles Dam upstream to Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River:  New fork-length limit is 43 inches to 54 inches. (Old limit 48 to 60 inches.)   
The Snake River upstream to Lower Granite Dam near the border with Idaho: New fork-length limit 43 to 54 inches.  (Old limit 48 to 60 inches.)
The new fork-length measurements will also take effect Jan. 1 for non-Indian commercial fisheries on the Columbia River.

While the Columbia River accounts for most white sturgeon caught in Washington state, James said the species is also the focus of active fisheries from northern Puget Sound to the bays and rivers along the Pacific Coast.

"Regardless of where people are fishing, these new size limits should make it easier for fishers to tell whether they should keep or release a fish," James said.

[Bearhunter]

That is a good rule to change.  Back when I used to Sturgeon fish a bunch, I was always worried if I got checked if the wardens and my perception of the length would differ.  Thankfully never got in that situation though.

[fc2038]

I agree good rule change. You never know whan a warden is having a bad day. I have had a tendency to toss back the ones that were to close just for that reason.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Personally I dont like it because it now limits the fish IMO that much more, I dont know about you guys but I have never had a issue measuring fish, hell I can look at one in the water and be within 1/2 in 99% of the time.... the problem I have with this is the top tail is not always the same length.. some have much longer tops, others short.. so if I land a fish that is 54.5 at the fork but only 59 at the tail now I have to let that beauty go!!   here is a example of just that these two are both 59.5 on the button.. they would be going back with this new rule...........

[cohoho]

Excellent, got stopped one time over on Oregon side, Warden kept talking about how we measured whether from laying him on the deck of the boat and measuring or holding by the tail and measuring, literally told us that you were supposed to lay them down, cause holding by the tail stretched the fish to the legal limit.  He was very nice about explaining why... It didn't matter in our case but, still didn't make any sense to me....  The fork way is great, thank Phool for posting....

[Antlershed]

I like the new rule. Essentially we will be keeping the same size fish, just an easier way to measure.

[huntnphool]

the problem I have with this is the top tail is not always the same length.. some have much longer tops, others short.. so if I land a fish that is 54.5 at the fork but only 59 at the tail now I have to let that beauty go!!   here is a example of just that these two are both 59.5 on the button.. they would be going back with this new rule...........

When you spend most of your time going after "oversize" this new retention rule shouldn't effect you much at all. Most dont have a problem measuring their fish its more about consistency and putting a end to the cheats that cut off an inch of tail or snub the snout.  With the old way the gamies said to do it, lift the tail and let it flop down then measure, you could flop it 5 times and get a different length with 3 of them, this will be much more accurate

 Those are two nice fish right there

[buckhorn2]

I watched a two day jury trial on a white sturgeon that a lawyer made the wardens look dumb. The law read that the fish was to be measured in a natural free swimming position from the nose to the tip of the tail. First the defendents lawyer brought up a 5 foot 8 inch guy who weighed about 250 pounds. He asked him his hight and he said 5-8 then went from the top of his head following the conture of his body and he was then about the hight of abdul jabar. The lawyer ask the wardens who taught them to measure both said nobody then the lawyer said if you went to school and were taught to give tickets for measure things why were;nt you taught to measure. Also the wardens had drug the fish up the dock;froze it then drug it into the court room and let it thaw and they had expert testify that the fish could have stretched because of dragging and lifting it because they don;t have a backbone. Anyway the jury found him not guilty and the fish was about two inches over the size limit.

[rasbo]

thats a much better way to measure,I like that change..Wow I found a change I like..I would like to bring two loggers up from calif to sturgeon fish,any good guides on here

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

id be happy to take them out

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

the problem I have with this is the top tail is not always the same length.. some have much longer tops, others short.. so if I land a fish that is 54.5 at the fork but only 59 at the tail now I have to let that beauty go!!   here is a example of just that these two are both 59.5 on the button.. they would be going back with this new rule...........

When you spend most of your time going after "oversize" this new retention rule shouldn't effect you much at all. Most dont have a problem measuring their fish its more about consistency and putting a end to the cheats that cut off an inch of tail or snub the snout.  With the old way the gamies said to do it, lift the tail and let it flop down then measure, you could flop it 5 times and get a different length with 3 of them, this will be much more accurate

 Those are two nice fish right there

 


i spend just as much time keeper fishing.. actually more because of the times you can target oversize  may-july and august-oct   during that time you can keeper fish as well and then you have the rest of the year... I just like the big guys better

[Antlershed]

thats a much better way to measure,I like that change..Wow I found a change I like..I would like to bring two loggers up from calif to sturgeon fish,any good guides on here

If you want to fish the lower river, I would sugest Toby at Sidewinder Charters http://www.sidewindercharters.com/

[huntnphool]

thats a much better way to measure,I like that change..Wow I found a change I like..I would like to bring two loggers up from calif to sturgeon fish,any good guides on here

Hoyt is a guide that gets loads of fish for his clients, and he is right here when not fishing, give him a call.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

thanks .. I love sturg thats all I can say..... couple days this fall

[huntnphool]

Holy crap, that last one on the left must be 59.99" Love the contrast the rain gear gives the pics

Here are a few

[mossback91]

never fished for sturgeon but I can say I love the way they taste when smoked

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

nice pics looks like all down in the estuary.. and that one was 60 on the button....

[huntnphool]

"Tongue Point" and "Shipwreck"

[huntnphool]

A few more pics. Here is Bone netting a tagged fish, then M-Ray holding a keeper and one of mine from Fathers Day 08

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

good lookin fish, my first keeper ever was a 57 in tagged fish.. whats with this netting sturg thing? thats crazy!! its a salmon net!   

[Ray]

I would like to retain some new sturgeon 

[cohoho]

Got a few to throw into the mix....

[cohoho]

Why not a couple more...

[cohoho]

And of course my friends from HuntWa....

[fc2038]

great pics I love sturgeon fishing!!!!!!!!!!

[huntnphool]

Nice pics Mike, man I had a load in my boat that day

[cohoho]

I got a couple more of you guy that day, Pope is great behind the lens but I don't have any of him in front.....  The pic you sent me of my boat, were getting it made into a large format framed pic for the den, too cool.  The pic is amazing once printed on quailty paper..

[huntnphool]

The pic you sent me of my boat, were getting it made into a large format framed pic for the den, too cool.  The pic is amazing once printed on quailty paper..

Dont do that the file is too small to make a decent reproduction of any size. I can give you the original large file for printing, you should be okay with it up to 30"X20"

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Good lookin fish! you guys both have covered sleds I see, nice for the cold days but man they are not as fun when the wind kicks up!! kinda like a sail on top? I love my open sled no room wasted.. but man it gets cold some days, at times I wish I had a nice cover to go into....   here are a few more.......... 

[cohoho]

You are right about trade offs, windy days well lets say I have a extremely hard time staying on line for sure, but the heater and stereo inside makes the difference and that is why they invented a kicker motor, need the TR-1 though.... I really like the top on the trip to and from happy fishing grounds, then the wipers are the cat's meow.........  Follow Huntnphool once and your really want a hardtop....      Fished for years in AK with out top in the nastiest weather anywhere and swore I'd never ever do that again, probably the reason both my kids are hard core weather men when it comes to going out..... They spent some very long boat rides - wet and miserable......    If it is really windy, I don't fish.  But if it is downpouring I can still fish and be dry.  I would rather 100 times over keep the top and stay comfortable, but your young, you like the wet-cold, right ........  Sometimes really miss the open boat on the nice days....  If I was guiding here, I'd be buying an open boat for sure and investing in good client rain gear..  Ready to start running again.....

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

That is the trade off for sure!  I love my T8. but on the really windy days I have sat on that damn kicker for 8-12 hours keeping the sled straight.. it sucks especially when clients miss good fish!! and I have been out in some nasty nasty stuff, thats what rain gear is for but being dry would be nice!! the room is the thing, especaily for guiding, its really hard to side drift or back troll a boat with a top... my boat I have had 9 people in and still had plenty of room.. thats what I love about it, no space wasted!! maybe when Im older ill get a covered boat.. after the guiding is over! we should all fish this year and exchange honey holes.. as long as we agree to keep them somewhat secret.....

[huntnphool]

My boats top folds away, I only put it up fishing to keep people comfortable.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Thats a start, that windsheild can be a bitch in the wind though! although no matter what I do with my boat the wind still sucks, my sides are so high and its so wide (8ft) that it still shifts alot

[Antlershed]

I think we are going to go try out the new size limit on New Year's Day

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

better go above the dam! below bonny with no smelt is basically a lost cause..... of try the willamete tons of fish in there....