Where did all the sturgeon go?

[singleshot12]

I have a couple spots in the northern puget sound area that in the recent past has been fairly decent fishing for keeper size sturgeon this time of year. Fished all the spots hard this year without even a nibble. Just wondering if anyone else is having the same terrible luck this year anywhere else?

[Skyvalhunter]

I know a few guys that fish some of the slots on the Snohomish river but havent heard how they have been doing.

[gaddy]

read in the paper not long ago that the sealions have been eating em up in the lower columbia as well as the salmon but dont think that would effect the sound unless you have a population that has moved in there and are targeting the stergeon.

[singleshot12]

I read that too..could be, but I haven't seen any more seals than usual in pugit sound.  Either that or the indians are netting them at night, don't think you'll ever read that in the paper though.

[gaddy]

could be the ruskies after the roe, they had a wrightup about that not to long ago also.

[Button Nubbs]

the only sturgeon i ever caught was at the mouth of the snoho. half of the tail was gone from the seals chewing on it. it measured 59" from the tip of the nose to the longest part of the chewed tail. That was the only time i have ever liked a sealion!

i guess it would be possible for them to be hurting the population, espically with low returns of just about all the other anadromous fishes.

[Ponderosa]

I recently read an article on this subject but can't recall where I read it It was about the decline of Sturgeon populations in Puget Sound (Priest Point, Snohomish River and the sloughs) the Stilly was also mentioned. It said the Sturgeon populations had been declineing for the past couple years and were considering new regulations/seasons for those areas. However it mentioned the tribes were still allowed to net.... If I come accross the article I'll post up better details.

[singleshot12]

That would be great Ponderosa if you find that article and post it!  I suppose it could be a number of differant things that has caused their sudden decline. Pretty sad though that it couldn't have been curbed before this.

[singleshot12]

could be the ruskies after the roe, they had a wrightup about that not to long ago also.

Come to think of it I have seen a couple groups of them the last couple of years and they were fishing them 24/7 

[bearpaw]

could be the ruskies after the roe, they had a wrightup about that not to long ago also.

Come to think of it I have seen a couple groups of them the last couple of years and they were fishing them 24/7 

Are they allowed to fish in the sound?

[singleshot12]

As far as I know the Russians can fish anywhere we can

[crow360]

Had a few friends fish the mouth of the Snohomish not to long ago and didnt catch anything. I might  give it a try if I find some more info out about where to go.

[Button Nubbs]

Pm me crow. You gotta put in time but they are there.

[singleshot12]

Still trying to remain optimistic and hoping the sturgeon just left from the fishing pressure and didn't get wiped out.

[Huntbear]

Bigfoot likes caviar....

Just saying...