Columbia Salmon and Sturgeon Rules Update

[Gringo31]

http://nwsportsmanmag.com/headlines/salmon-sturgeon-rules-changing-columbia-gorge/

Columbia salmon managers announced that the river from Bonneville Dam to the Oregon-Washington border will reopen for Chinook starting Thursday, May 28, and as of Saturday, May 30, the bank-only waters below the dam will open for boat fishing.

However, sturgeon retention in the John Day Pool will close as of June 3. Just over three-quarters of the quota was estimated to have been caught through May 24. Catch and release can continue in open areas.

The rule changes were made this afternoon.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington today opened two recreational Chinook salmon seasons on the Columbia River based on improved returns, and closed retention sturgeon fishing in another area.

Chinook salmon fishing will open to boat anglers from Beacon Rock upstream to the fishing deadline at Bonneville Dam, effective Saturday May 30 through June 15.  Previously, this section of the river was open only to bank anglers. With this modification, Chinook fishing is now permitted for both boat and bank fishers from Tongue Point upstream to Bonneville Dam. This area will also open to retention of steelhead along with Chinook.

Fishery managers also reopened the Columbia above Bonneville Dam to Chinook salmon and steelhead fishing from Thursday, May 28 through June 15. The open area extends from the Tower Island power lines, approximately six miles below The Dalles Dam, upstream to the Oregon/Washington border. In addition, bank (but not boat) fishing is permitted on both sides of the river from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines.

The daily bag limit for all fisheries noted above includes two adult salmonids per day, but only one may be a Chinook. Only adipose fin-clipped fish may be kept and all other permanent regulations apply.  Sockeye may not be retained until the summer season opens June 16.

Additionally, fishery managers closed the John Day Pool and tributaries to retention of white sturgeon, effective June 3. Catch and release fishing for sturgeon remains allowed in the John Day Pool, except from May through July in the sturgeon spawning sanctuary that runs from McNary Dam downstream to the I-82 Bridge.

[LabChamp]

When will they just close sturgeon to retention? Just let the damn fish rebuild their population before we continue our annual beating

[Limhangerslayer]

When will they just close sturgeon to retention? Just let the damn fish rebuild their population before we continue our annual beating

Our "ANNUAL BEATING"  isn't the main factor in declining population's stopping sport fishing retention will mean it will never be open again, but there will still be plenty of tribal harvest.

[LabChamp]

When will they just close sturgeon to retention? Just let the damn fish rebuild their population before we continue our annual beating

Our "ANNUAL BEATING"  isn't the main factor in declining population's stopping sport fishing retention will mean it will never be open again, but there will still be plenty of tribal harvest.

Just bc "they can" doesn't mean we should

[Gringo31]

I think every stretch of the river has a different story.  Closing all sturgeon to retention I feel is a bit flippant and reactionary.

[LabChamp]

Sometimes the best conservation is to be proactive instead of reactive. I think it should be closed to all, tribal and commercial included. I feel that if overall population numbers have gone from where we have 10 punches on a card down to 2... There's obviously a problem. Sure there are different populations between damns but the overall numbers are FAR below what they used to be in any of section of the river

[BABackcountryBwhntr]

it should be closed .. the populations in the pools have taken a huge nose dive as well in the last 6 years.... the tribes get more then their share, I can assure of that with 100% certainty. Below the dam the numbers are good, but 2 days of retention would end that and for the life of me I do not understand why people seem to miss that fact. It needs to be closed for a long time ( 12+ years min) sea lions need to be killed and no nets.. then maybe we will see good numbers again.