Post by: huntnphool on December 23, 2008, 07:24:38 PM
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
December 23, 2008
Contact: Brad James, (360) 906-6716
Sturgeon size limits will switch
to 'fork length' measurement
OLYMPIA - Starting New Year's Day, anglers fishing for sturgeon should find the big fish easier to measure for compliance with state size limits.
By mutual agreement, fishery managers in Washington and Oregon have agreed to base official size limits for white sturgeon on "fork length" - the distance between the tip of a fish's nose and the fork in its tail - rather than their full length.
That change is designed primarily to make it easier to measure thrashing sturgeon, which often run four to five feet in length, said Brad James, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
"In most cases, a legal-size fish under the old rules will still be a legal-size fish under the new rules," James said. "The method of measuring the fish will change, but the size of the fish retained by anglers will remain the same."
The main problem with trying to measure the total length of a sturgeon is that the top lobe of a sturgeon's tail is longer and more flexible than the bottom lobe, James said. "The new rule eliminates an element of subjectivity that has long been problematic for anglers and fishery managers alike," he said.
An illustration of measuring a sturgeon according to fork length is posted on the WDFW website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/sturgeon/index.html ).
Starting Jan. 1, both the minimum and maximum size limits for retaining white sturgeon will be adjusted to reflect the new "fork-length" measurement. As under current rules, a maximum size limit will be retained to protect large, breeding female sturgeon.
Under rules currently in effect for most waters of the state, anglers may retain only those white sturgeon with a total length of 42 to 60 inches. Under the new statewide rule, the new standard for legal-size sturgeon will be 38 to 54 inches, measured from a fish's snout to the fork in its tail.
The new 54-inch size maximum limit will be in effect statewide. However, as under current rules, minimum size limits will vary from the 38-inch statewide standard on certain stretches of the Columbia and Snake rivers. Effective Jan. 1, new size limits on those rivers will be as follows:
The mouth of the Columbia River upstream to Wauna powerlines near Cathlamet: New fork-length limit is 38 to 54 inches through April 30. (Old limit 45 to 60 inches.)
The Dalles Dam upstream to Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River: New fork-length limit is 43 inches to 54 inches. (Old limit 48 to 60 inches.)
The Snake River upstream to Lower Granite Dam near the border with Idaho: New fork-length limit 43 to 54 inches. (Old limit 48 to 60 inches.)
The new fork-length measurements will also take effect Jan. 1 for non-Indian commercial fisheries on the Columbia River.
While the Columbia River accounts for most white sturgeon caught in Washington state, James said the species is also the focus of active fisheries from northern Puget Sound to the bays and rivers along the Pacific Coast.
"Regardless of where people are fishing, these new size limits should make it easier for fishers to tell whether they should keep or release a fish," James said.
Post by: Bearhunter on December 23, 2008, 08:21:27 PM
Post by: fc2038 on December 23, 2008, 08:38:40 PM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 23, 2008, 10:37:02 PM
Post by: cohoho on December 23, 2008, 10:39:03 PM
Post by: Antlershed on December 23, 2008, 11:23:12 PM
Post by: huntnphool on December 23, 2008, 11:38:46 PM
the problem I have with this is the top tail is not always the same length.. some have much longer tops, others short.. so if I land a fish that is 54.5 at the fork but only 59 at the tail now I have to let that beauty go!! here is a example of just that these two are both 59.5 on the button.. they would be going back with this new rule...........
When you spend most of your time going after "oversize" this new retention rule shouldn't effect you much at all. Most dont have a problem measuring their fish its more about consistency and putting a end to the cheats that cut off an inch of tail or snub the snout. With the old way the gamies said to do it, lift the tail and let it flop down then measure, you could flop it 5 times and get a different length with 3 of them, this will be much more accurate :twocents:
Those are two nice fish right there :tup:
Post by: buckhorn2 on December 24, 2008, 09:58:29 AM
Post by: rasbo on December 24, 2008, 10:33:01 AM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 24, 2008, 10:40:25 AM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 24, 2008, 10:41:42 AM
the problem I have with this is the top tail is not always the same length.. some have much longer tops, others short.. so if I land a fish that is 54.5 at the fork but only 59 at the tail now I have to let that beauty go!! here is a example of just that these two are both 59.5 on the button.. they would be going back with this new rule...........
When you spend most of your time going after "oversize" this new retention rule shouldn't effect you much at all. Most dont have a problem measuring their fish its more about consistency and putting a end to the cheats that cut off an inch of tail or snub the snout. With the old way the gamies said to do it, lift the tail and let it flop down then measure, you could flop it 5 times and get a different length with 3 of them, this will be much more accurate :twocents:
Those are two nice fish right there :tup:
i spend just as much time keeper fishing.. actually more because of the times you can target oversize may-july and august-oct during that time you can keeper fish as well and then you have the rest of the year... I just like the big guys better
Post by: Antlershed on December 24, 2008, 11:44:53 AM
thats a much better way to measure,I like that change..Wow I found a change I like..I would like to bring two loggers up from calif to sturgeon fish,any good guides on hereIf you want to fish the lower river, I would sugest Toby at Sidewinder Charters http://www.sidewindercharters.com/
Post by: huntnphool on December 24, 2008, 12:37:08 PM
thats a much better way to measure,I like that change..Wow I found a change I like..I would like to bring two loggers up from calif to sturgeon fish,any good guides on here
Hoyt is a guide that gets loads of fish for his clients, and he is right here when not fishing, give him a call. :dunno:
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 24, 2008, 05:58:27 PM
Post by: huntnphool on December 24, 2008, 09:47:12 PM
Here are a few
Post by: mossback91 on December 24, 2008, 10:09:55 PM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 24, 2008, 10:43:18 PM
Post by: huntnphool on December 24, 2008, 10:52:42 PM
Post by: huntnphool on December 24, 2008, 11:38:31 PM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 25, 2008, 12:02:28 PM
Post by: Ray on December 25, 2008, 01:40:22 PM
Post by: cohoho on December 25, 2008, 01:40:49 PM
Post by: cohoho on December 25, 2008, 01:45:12 PM
Post by: cohoho on December 25, 2008, 01:49:09 PM
Post by: fc2038 on December 25, 2008, 01:52:56 PM
Post by: huntnphool on December 25, 2008, 02:01:20 PM
Post by: cohoho on December 25, 2008, 02:14:01 PM
Post by: huntnphool on December 25, 2008, 04:02:02 PM
The pic you sent me of my boat, were getting it made into a large format framed pic for the den, too cool. The pic is amazing once printed on quailty paper..
Dont do that the file is too small to make a decent reproduction of any size. I can give you the original large file for printing, you should be okay with it up to 30"X20"
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 25, 2008, 06:35:25 PM
Post by: cohoho on December 25, 2008, 07:56:17 PM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 25, 2008, 08:23:39 PM
Post by: huntnphool on December 25, 2008, 11:04:02 PM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 26, 2008, 10:52:32 AM
Post by: Antlershed on December 26, 2008, 11:11:38 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe363%2Fbrent_hedden%2FFishing%2520and%2520Hunting%2FDSC_01300001.jpg&hash=df60e3d235d5ba49920fbba497e6e958cb1295a4)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv336%2F4tacxoma4%2FFishing%2520and%2520Hunting%2Fsturgy2.jpg&hash=b73c86ff49885dd9213fe2bea110847d3b78b911)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv336%2F4tacxoma4%2FFishing%2520and%2520Hunting%2FDSC_0540.jpg&hash=b6d25c1bb6e04e1be314b1b0c5b6c97371ff482e)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv336%2F4tacxoma4%2FFishing%2520and%2520Hunting%2Fsturgy-1.jpg&hash=d40e405e4fd2ef0f6d01cbfa826411b66bb5788b)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv336%2F4tacxoma4%2FFishing%2520and%2520Hunting%2FBrent1.jpg&hash=df278348e4f535971c350d65390b37c10f0c9351)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv336%2F4tacxoma4%2FFishing%2520and%2520Hunting%2Fsturgy.jpg&hash=1982cd7d78110e45ca34588c540a13479b5d3920)
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 26, 2008, 12:09:45 PM