First oversize of 09' !

[jackelope]

I think some of you have Sturgeon envy..... chuckle chuckle chuckle

i don't.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Is it really legal if you are specifically targeting fish outside the legal range?  Using full size shad that a legal fish won't or can't eat.

If I troll a herring in a closed salmon area and claim I'm lingcod fishing is it legal?  If I'm on a jury I'm finding that person guilty because we all know what they are doing.   

None of my comments here specifically address this post.  Just rhetorical thoughts.

I catch 4 -7 keepers a year this time of year on whole shad, I try to use the smallest ones I can. you would be surprised how big of a bait these fish can eat. last august I got a 59 with a large whole shad

[bullcanyon]

Normally hoyt is the one being arrogant.  Not this time.  A couple of you just flat out don't like him for past experience and are just slamming for the sake of doing so.  I'm not his biggest fan, but you guys are ridiculous.  Put out half this effort into getting the law changed and maybe we won't have to watch you act like gradeschoolers. 

[Dmanmastertracker]

Normally hoyt is the one being arrogant.  Not this time.  A couple of you just flat out don't like him for past experience and are just slamming for the sake of doing so.  I'm not his biggest fan, but you guys are ridiculous.  Put out half this effort into getting the law changed and maybe we won't have to watch you act like gradeschoolers. 

 You've added nothing to this conversation but insult's, when you have some type of opinion on the subject matter, fishing for oversized, then chime in.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I really have nothing against Hoyt. I have a problem targeting the breeders of the population.

15 years ago we didn't have the problem we have today, we could keep 2 fish a day from 36"-72" and there was no annual limit, now we can keep 1 fish from 38-54 inches unless you are in the estuary.
When the salmon started to decline, and the internet took off so did the targeting of sturgeon so the seasons were curtailed. Accidental catch of oversize fish will happen but that is like the accidental catch of unclipped salmon, it is going to happen. It is going out to hook 7-10 a day from multiple guides and private boats that really gets me.
But whatever, its not illegal so keep doing it.
I used to fish for oversize sturgeon, but i have stopped. I have hookd them in the estuary and up near camas, i use salmon gear for sturgeon now and if i hook one i cut the line, i also no longer use stainless hooks, they rust out much quicker.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Did someone make reference to hunting???

How about you compare it to chasing deer to get them to drop there antlers. that is what i liken this to. Or hunting cows in january, yes they do it as a management tool so someones fences don't get torn down, or hunting cows in the trout lake valley in march, I think it is the same.

[singleshot12]

How many sturgeon guides were out there two or three years ago? not very many,now there are probably hundreds. Common sense tells you several more years of heavy fishing will have a very negative impact on these fish. Man has exploited,commercialized, and ruined everything else,so why not do it to the sturgeon?
Why let it get to that point?
The law needs to be changed!,,as of now there is no night closer or snagging rule in effect for the salt water,,estuaries where oversize sturgeon congregate need to be closed,,and maybe even prohibit specific baits that oversize fish feed on.

Just common sense ideas that would ensure our kids can fish for them some day,,spin it if you like.

[jackelope]

fly fishing only!!!

[boneaddict]

Well considering I'm not a conservationist nor am I a sturgeon fisherman, nor do I know Hoyt from Adam I figure you might be missing the point Bull.   I don't think its rocket science to know the damage is being done.  I catch and release 99% of the time all species and know quite well what kind of mortality there is no matter how careful I am.  You take a fish that takes x amount of years, sorry 30 years seems like a long time to me, to reproduce.  Then target that fish, a fish that is fairly easy to dupe, then screw up their spawn cycle, then give it a %10 chance of dieing......... (I wonder if there is a chance they could be hooked 10 times in a 30+ year period)

As for the picture with a lot of them in one spot.  That was very cool, but doubt that means the ocean is birming with them.  I would imagine or relate it to seeing a group of 20 bulls on the clockum in one area.  That doesn't mean shoot them all.

But hey, go ahead keep doing it, its legal.  You know how they shut down incidental catch.  They shut down the fishery.  I guess it wouldn't hurt my feelings any.  Its not like I'm ever down there.

make it single barbless with bait restrictions. LOL

[jackelope]

back east we had restrictions on river salmon fishing as far as hook size, as in the gap of the hook. we couldn't use anything larger than a 1/2" gap between the hook shank and the point of it. something like this would seem to help. a max hook size would either eliminate or make it very difficult to use the baits commonly used for oversized fish.

i should add that i don't have anything against hoyt either, just the practice of skirting the law to fish for oversized fish.

[singleshot12]

It already is single barbless atleast

I too would rather see it completely closed down to everybody than continue to see the abuse to these old fish.
Not seeing a dead oversize on the shore line after the weekend cluster of guides and others would be nice

[bobcat]

Well considering I'm not a conservationist

Really



From merriam-webster.com:

conservationist

: a person who advocates conservation especially of natural resources

conservation:

1: a careful preservation and protection of something ; especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect

[singleshot12]

Not really sure how anyone that hunts or fishes could not be a conservationist.??

[M_ray]

Well considering I'm not a conservationist

Really



From merriam-webster.com:

conservationist

: a person who advocates conservation especially of natural resources

conservation:

1: a careful preservation and protection of something ; especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect

Yeah so whats your point Bobcat? or is it as usual just to stir the pot! 

[Kent Hunter]

I'll book a trip with ya Hoyt. It looks like fun.