First oversize of 09' !

[robodad]

I don't ever catch any fish and some of you know that so I am safe in posting that I seen a 350# halibut lying on the dock in the photo of the month and not one comment about killing the spawners of that species,

I also seen coolers full of black bass and no comments about how that particular species is dwindling so fast and takes so long to recover etc......!  

what about those ??

Or the Walleyes that are targeted and released, are they not stressed too ??

I get really tired of reading these types of threads where a person is posting their activities for our enjoyment and information and all we can do is kick dirt on them, This is sad !!  

[boneaddict]

It doesn't take a walleye,  a bass, a halibut a 100 years to reach an age at which they can reproduce.

[Dmanmastertracker]

Couple legit questions here:
- Why doesn't the F/G shut down sturgeon fishing during the spawn?
- Does the length of the fight play a major role in the stress level as it does in other fish? 
- Is 20-30 minutes a long fight, average, short for sturgeon of that size?

I totally understand the ethical argument but it seems like he's within the law in fishing for em, and he seems like he's handling them responsibily or at least trying to minimize the stress.  Is there any objective data that shows mortality associated with this?  Again, I understand the concerns but if it is so impactful on what is known to be such a fragile (as some one put so well) fishery why is it even legal?

Not tryin to take sides.... truly tryin to better understand.

 - Why doesn't the F/G shut down sturgeon fishing during the spawn? -I guess I don't understand that question, the season is closed for most breeding age fish, fish over 54" long. There are also select areas closed altogether during the spawn upstream.
- Does the length of the fight play a major role in the stress level as it does in other fish? It does in all fish
- Is 20-30 minutes a long fight, average, short for sturgeon of that size? I doubt someone when they say it only takes that long to land on oversized fish.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 The last comprehensive study of mortality on the Columbia was done in 2000, since then there has been some contraction of season's as a precaution, but I have not seen any new mortality data, though some groups in Oregon are asking for such a study, due to visible mortality and signs of decreasing population.

[boneaddict]

visible mortality

You mean the 9 footers that keep washing up on shore.

[Dmanmastertracker]

  The same.

[rougheye]

Everybody knows what is right or wrong here     There will always be people who push the limits of the law until the resource is gone . Thats just the way it is . If you can look in the mirror at yourself in the mirror at night knowing you ruining your own livelyhood than go for it . Im sure your tips are good too    Please just dont advertise it , you give us all a bad name .

[robodad]

It doesn't take a walleye,  a bass, a halibut a 100 years to reach an age at which they can reproduce.

Sturgeon don't take 100 years to mature either !!

[huntnphool]

Just let it go guys, he is never going to see the long term affects and worse yet he doesn't care. He is a short sighted, narrow minded, get mine while I can personality that is only interested in a quick paycheck. Anyone that compares catching trout plants to oversize sturgeon clearly has no clue!

[snipekillr]

NICE

[huntnphool]

Sturgeon don't take 100 years to mature either !!

 This is true, its actually about 30 so its all good then.

[jackelope]

personally i think fishing oversized sturgeon on purpose is not something i choose to do. i will frown on people who do it because i can.
i also think wild trout, salmon and steelhead should all be released.

i also don't eat billfish at restaurants and i don't buy wild steelhead in the grocery store.


i know everyone doesn't agree with that, and i'm ok with that. call me what you want, thats what i choose.

[singleshot12]

Everybody knows what is right or wrong here     There will always be people who push the limits of the law until the resource is gone . Thats just the way it is . If you can look in the mirror at yourself in the mirror at night knowing you ruining your own livelyhood than go for it . Im sure your tips are good too    Please just dont advertise it , you give us all a bad name .

I want my kids to be able to fish for keeper size sturgeon some day, so I am writing letters to help get the law changed to protect these old souls.
If it keeps going the way it is,I'm guessing within five years bio's will notice a major decline and we will all loose it, maybe forever.

[6x6in6]

And to think some of his clientelle might actually consider themselves sportsmen.  Oh, the power of the almighty dollar and making one here and there.

At least we get the opportunity to stick a fork in his ass.  Some salvation I guess.

[robodad]

Sturgeon don't take 100 years to mature either !!

 This is true, its actually about 30 so its all good then.

Its actually around 18 which is a really long time in my book, Halibut are around 8 years and bass is a long time as well, so really all species are affected by stress and recover slowly.

My whole point is not to point fingers here as we are all guilty in some fashon as fishermen when it comes to stressing different species, I do agree that targeting a specific species when they are spawning is a bad idea regardless which one it is but the WDFW sets the seasons on them and sometimes they coinside with the spawning.

I think it is best to not target anything weather wildlife or fish that we cannot keep. If I don't have a bull tag in my pocket you won't find me trying to call them or persue them in any way, and same goes for fish, I don't fish for salmon when I know I cannot keep them it's simple.

Long term it could be harmful to the species but WDFW has to determine that before anything will really be done about it.