sturgeon and the Fraser River Question

[cohoho]

Anyone ever fish it for Sturgeon?  Sockeye?

Looking at heading up there this summer when I visit the the wife's family (OUTLAWS), anyhow figured why not, go for some Sockeyes and then chase a Sturgeon or two around...  Everything I am reading about the fishery is that is C&R for sturgeon which is perfectly fine by me.  Anyhow, I noticed several B.C. F&G report on the survivability rate of large Sturgeon, it is quite different than what some have posted about catching large Sturgeon and how harmful it is too them.  Their stance is a that ZERO tagged "Over sized" fish have died after catch and release over the period of a season, I think the survey was done in 1999.  Mind you it took fisherman to report these tags and then they tracked them, it is a really in depth report that will take me awhile to dissect it and understand exactly the outcome.  A couple independent web sites also have stated similar views about how targeting the "Keepers" size contributes to mortality more?  Not fueling the fire but are there actually scientific test done here in Washington that confirm what some of you stated or is it perception?  Anyone know of a Bio assigned to Sturgeon, either Oregon or Washington, like to learn more if possible... I also found an old report from 80's that had the stocking numbers to the upper Willamette during the 80's and how now these fish should be of Keeper size, anyone fish the upper river?  I really want some substantial information please not opinions if possible....  I am trying to formulate my own thoughts on it, so I can speak with knowledge and been gathering information.  Thanks 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Sent you a PM.  Brad James in Vancouver was the WDFW lead for sturgeon, last I knew.

[singleshot12]

No scientific data,just the occasional dead one on the shore after a weekend of heavy fishing pressure.
I think the bio's in Washington are pretty new to sturgeon study,,but I did have one tell me that with the increasing popularity and pressure they are getting, that most likely the season will be shortened and eventually catch and release like the Fraser r.

[cohoho]

But don't you also think those dead ones are from contributing factors like grabbing the gill plates and hoisting them in the boat as shown in several pictures here and on other sites, not excluding the guides, saw a picture hanging in Sportmans Warehouse of guide with his boat name and everything having a firm hold on the gill plate... How many people really follow the rule of NOT removing the large beast from the water, we all have seen photos.  Take a look at the BC fishing regs and photos of guides up there, gripping and grinning gill plates, out of water, half body shoots for every style of pose?  Becoming a C & R, I guess that seems fair, due to the fact that we all target the "Keepers" and then what happens when that age group grows up to breed, not many of them left to reproduce and then the big ones that are left are caught and caught over and over creating a cycle that will eventually end, right?   I would assume we are shrinking their numbers quickly??  Last year wasn't it Thursday through Sun for retention, now it is Thurs through Sat...  You might be right and we might lose the retention factor of these totally cool fish..

[singleshot12]

And that is most likely what it is from,,too many people just don't care. It doesn't take much to tear their gills,that's why those rules are in place,and if people don't follow them,then we will all loose a great fishery.
One method of lifting the oversize up that really bothers me is when they run a rope through the gills and lift the fish up for the photo.

And I do not agree with a C & R fishery either,,that mainly benifits the guides and tackle companys...doesn't really benifit the sturgeon at all....when it's C & R only is when I stop fishing for them,,why put them through the stress if ya can't eat em?

[singleshot12]

Oh and a large percentage of the sturgeon that end up here are from the Fraser.

[Fishhunt223]

And that is most likely what it is from,,too many people just don't care. It doesn't take much to tear their gills,that's why those rules are in place,and if people don't follow them,then we will all loose a great fishery.
One method of lifting the oversize up that really bothers me is when they run a rope through the gills and lift the fish up for the photo.

And I do not agree with a C & R fishery either,,that mainly benifits the guides and tackle companys...doesn't really benifit the sturgeon at all....when it's C & R only is when I stop fishing for them,,why put them through the stress if ya can't eat em?

I have to disagree with you here.  Im not a bigtime sturgeon fisherman but as with most other species, catch and release is great IMO.  As long as the rules are followed and the fish is not taken out of the water, why not?  Catch and release anglers are what makes sportfishing possible, if everybody kept every fish they ever caught, there wouldnt be anything left.  I dont think this has anything to do with benefitting the takle and guide industry.  Since when does the fish and game department care about tacklemakers?
Travis

[cohoho]

Fishhunt, Agree with you about C & R, probably why the Canadians have supported the continual fishing for the Sturgeon, just no keeping them and even though I hate to admit but California is doing similar stuff in regards to protecting the fish on the Sacramento River. 

Single shot, Where did you get the information about the Sturgeon from the Fraser here in the Columbia?  Trying to find that out on web land.  Now I have read a couple things on some of the fish in the Snohomish as being Fraser fish, but what I have found they classify Columbia fish as  just Columbia fish not linked to Fraser?  Curious?

[singleshot12]

From a couple biologists,and no the Frazer fish do not go as far as the Columbia.

As far as catch and release goes, IMO, just don't agree with it.
If a native fish is anywhere close to being endangered why not close it completely and just leave them alone for awhile until numbers are back to a sustainable level?
Also it just doesn't make sense to spend all that time and money on fishing and not be able to take one home and eat it.  

[BigGoonTuna]

And I do not agree with a C & R fishery either,,that mainly benifits the guides and tackle companys...doesn't really benifit the sturgeon at all....when it's C & R only is when I stop fishing for them,,why put them through the stress if ya can't eat em?

i think anyone who is really serious about steelhead fishing(as in, walking miles or riverbank in march for wild winter runs) might disagree with that statement...

sturgeon are some seriously tough fish.  before the quinaults decimated them in the chehalis in the mid-late '90s, there used to be great fishing in there.  i remember my dad taking one home once without killing it, left it in the bed of his truck overnight and it was still flopping around the next morning.

i would be willing to bet that a lot of the folks who are saying that fishing for the big oversize sturgeon is extremely harmful are a product of our newer laws.  i'm seeing the same with salmon/steelhead fishermen -- they're tough fish too.  but now since you can't take them out of the water for a picture any more, you have a lot of guys thinking it kills them for some reason.  not to say that common sense isn't necessary, and unfortunately it's the lack of that which caused these laws being put into place(guys grabbing sturgeon by the gills, dragging salmon on the bank and letting them flop in the sand before releasing, etc).

[Firstlight]

I thought I would get in on this one because I fish the Fraser alot. I think the C&R is a great thing on this river. The amount of revenue brought in by targeting these fish is at an all time high, even though you cant take one home to eat. When you use to be able to keep them they almost wiped out the river.

I have only seen a couple of dead ones washed up in 12 years of steady fishing.

I know that in the winter months when water temps get real low, extra special care must be given to these fish for mortality purposes. All of the guides I know take extra special care for these fish. The fishing clubs and guides run the tagging programs and everyone does there part to ensure this fishery will be around in years to come.

I read a report about 4-5 years ago about sturgeon, and where they travel. It would not suprise me at all if Fraser fish migrated to the Columbia, or the other way around. About 6 years ago they caught a tagged Fraser sturgeon in a river in Alaska.

One thing that does bug me though is that the Provenience started licencing to target these fish. Now I don't know where there Sturgeon Hatchery is but where's this money going. If the Clubs and Guides are spending there own money for tagging purposes why do I want to pay 80 dollars a year to the Provenience.

[cohoho]

Nice Fish- First light, want to chat with you in the next couple days via PM for information on the Fraser if that is alright?  Is it 80 dollars a year for the additional cost for Sturgeon alone?  Add that to the normal fee for Non-resident Alien, man that can costly for fishing quickly, hope they have a three day permit for both Salmon and Sturgeon...  Going to be trying it this summer a bit but I got to get my information down first.  Again nice fish for sure...

[BigGoonTuna]

maybe that 80 bucks is for paying biologists to study them?   i know a lot of BC rivers are managed for "quality" fishing and have an extra fee/limited entry.  sometimes i wish they'd do that for some of our rivers here...

now, if we're on the subject of huge scams, i'm still wondering where my boat license fees go...