DJ UNPLUGGED: Reanalyzing the reopening of sturgeon on the Columbia

ASTORIA, Ore. - The bad news: Washington and Oregon fisheries managers extended the sturgeon retention season on the lower Columbia River. 

Why? Because the quota wasn’t filled. It wasn’t last year either. Or the year before that.

For the last several years now the estuary sturgeon fishing hasn’t been what it used to be. It’s a blast catching these surprisingly good-fighting bottom feeders in 4 to 12 feet of water on light tackle. It’s not uncommon to have these fish make 75 to 100 yard runs or break water multiple times. Even the “shakers” that are too small run 10 to 20 pounds.

A fishery in decline?
But instead of catching dozens of fish and limiting out every day, we now have to work for them. We still get some limits, but on some days we don’t. This year we did get keepers every time out, but we only averaged 10 fish a trip.

There are several theories out there as to why it’s been slow: The water is too cold, too much fresh water, too many anchovies, the anchovies haven’t come in yet, the nets are getting them all ... I’m sure some of these things factor in.

For several years, though, I’ve felt that we're keeping too many. I’m guilty of this harvest too, and I can’t blame anglers for wanting to take some meat home (sturgeon are excellent table fare)

But why are we allowed to keep so many? ODFW and WDFW make their pre-season population estimates and then set a quota accordingly. I’m sure they're doing the best job they can, but maybe there are less fish than they say there are. For sure we're catching fewer fish, small fish included.

Another interesting fact: In the last three to five years, sea lions have been documented eating sturgeon. Particularly breeding females. I’m sure this is making an impact on top of all the dead sturgeon hitting the docks.

C&R is the key
I’ve tried to promote the catch-and-release fishing after retention closes, but rarely get more than two or three groups that are interested. It’s been easy to fill up my dates when you can keep fish.

But these fish are too special to be caught just once. A typical keeper is 15 to 24 years old.

But why do people always have to take meat home? I understand this mentality to an extent, but there are more sustainable fish to eat. I personally haven’t kept a sturgeon for three years now, and shallow-water sturgeon fishing is a blast for the C&R angler!

Recently I had the pleasure of fishing with David and Andrew, and although they could have kept fish to take home, they chose to catch and release. And they were rewarded greatly!

They caught 20 sturgeon, releasing five keeper size fish, 14 “shakers” and to finish off the trip, the last fish was a beautiful oversize female of around 7 feet.

Andrew did an excellent job of getting her in as quickly as he could, and after a few quick pics, she was sent on her way.

It was a blast seeing the mix of excitement and strain on Andrew’s face and watching his arms quiver as he worked to bring that 150 pound fish to the boat on a 983 GLoomis salmon rod.

David and Andrew have fished all over from Montana to Florida and this was one of their best trips ever.

-D.J.

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