Roosevelt Sturgeon

[Mtnwalker]

We caught and released 5 undersized Friday afternoon, all 42-48 inches. Nothing Saturday or Sunday. Warden that checked us said that they caught an undersized and and oversized that people kept and they confiscated them.

We just so happened to be anchored up next to a boat that had a fish confiscated. When the wdfw showed up they had already heard from other boats and a officer spotting from shore that someone landed a 63 incher. They proceeded to board the other boat and stretched the fish as hard as they could and measured the exact contour of the fish. It ended up being 63 5/8" according to them. It was taken and ticket was issued. Personally I thought it was a bit ridiculous and it pissed off the fisherman in every boat in the area. I understand rules are rules, but these officers used every possible way to try to manipulate a fish's size including the fact that it had already been bleed out which is known to cause a bit of postmortem stretch to sturgeon. Zero leniency was shown to the fisherman, who appeared to be a ethical sportsman and took a lot of time trying to get an accurate measurement on the fish.

If that's true then that is BS.

[bhawley76]

We got two undersized Friday morning Nothing Saturday or Sunday. We got checked and the guy told us they had done a fare share of tickets for undersized fish mostly around China bend. 

[Ridgeratt]

I wonder on how many people never read the rules and are going off last years slot?

Sounds like a batch of blissful fishermen.

[Buckhunter82]

I am sure some are going off of last year. Either way WDFW will find a way to write tickets and make money. They will even threaten and intimidate to convince the person not to challenge the ticket in court.  I know a few wdfw officers that are great but that agency has problems.

[Switchback]

I'm assuming you didn't make it up there for sturgeon like you said. If so you didn't miss much! Just about all 200 boats who showed up for opening weekend were left very disappointed. The fishing was extremely slow and nothing like last year. The biologists were saying the fish are likely more spread out this year and last years fishery took way more fish than they estimated.

No, decided it would be better to plan a long weekend out there sometime – didn't even go to banks, ended up staying close and fishing the Sound. Still planning on trying it out this year – just want to have more time to do it.

[Ridgeratt]

We caught and released 5 undersized Friday afternoon, all 42-48 inches. Nothing Saturday or Sunday. Warden that checked us said that they caught an undersized and and oversized that people kept and they confiscated them.

We just so happened to be anchored up next to a boat that had a fish confiscated. When the wdfw showed up they had already heard from other boats and a officer spotting from shore that someone landed a 63 incher. They proceeded to board the other boat and stretched the fish as hard as they could and measured the exact contour of the fish. It ended up being 63 5/8" according to them. It was taken and ticket was issued. Personally I thought it was a bit ridiculous and it pissed off the fisherman in every boat in the area. I understand rules are rules, but these officers used every possible way to try to manipulate a fish's size including the fact that it had already been bleed out which is known to cause a bit of postmortem stretch to sturgeon. Zero leniency was shown to the fisherman, who appeared to be a ethical sportsman and took a lot of time trying to get an accurate measurement on the fish.

Its stated as the overall length not the contour. The regs show a measurement from nose to fork.
I use a hunk of pvc cut at 63 inches with a ring marked at 53.  last years was marked from 38 to 63 with a few bench marks along it.

[ctwiggs1]

Yeah I would have them take photos of overall length as well then for court.  Those game wardens just seized hundreds of dollars in meat.  I would be pretty upset.

[Ridgeratt]

It would be nice if they posted some place the quantity that has been Killed. There Mike!!!

Since it is only a 1000 fish quota!