07-01-2008, 11:10 AM
Oregon and Washington fishery managers announced today that they will open a July recreational sturgeon fishery on the Columbia River.
<br>Anglers will be able to fish for and keep sturgeon on the mainstem Columbia from Buoy 10 upstream to the Wauna powerlines on the following days: Thursday, July 10 through Saturday, July 12; Thursday, July 17 through Saturday, July 19; and Saturday, July 26 through Sunday, July 27<br>
<br>The daily bag limit remains one fish per day and five per year. Only fish between 45 and 60 inches long can be kept.<br>
<br>"This is rare that we're fishing for sturgeon on the Columbia River in mid-July," said Steve Williams, ODFW fish division deputy director. "Catch rates were lower than expected so we can give anglers additional opportunities to catch a sturgeon.<br>
<br>"With better weather in July and higher water temperatures fishing should be good," Williams added.<br>
<br>The decision to open an additional sturgeon season was made by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington, which co-manage fisheries on the Columbia River. Managers estimated that when the current sturgeon season ended on June 24, there were still 4,200 sturgeon available for harvest.
<br>Anglers will be able to fish for and keep sturgeon on the mainstem Columbia from Buoy 10 upstream to the Wauna powerlines on the following days: Thursday, July 10 through Saturday, July 12; Thursday, July 17 through Saturday, July 19; and Saturday, July 26 through Sunday, July 27<br>
<br>The daily bag limit remains one fish per day and five per year. Only fish between 45 and 60 inches long can be kept.<br>
<br>"This is rare that we're fishing for sturgeon on the Columbia River in mid-July," said Steve Williams, ODFW fish division deputy director. "Catch rates were lower than expected so we can give anglers additional opportunities to catch a sturgeon.<br>
<br>"With better weather in July and higher water temperatures fishing should be good," Williams added.<br>
<br>The decision to open an additional sturgeon season was made by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington, which co-manage fisheries on the Columbia River. Managers estimated that when the current sturgeon season ended on June 24, there were still 4,200 sturgeon available for harvest.