Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington set 2025 sturgeon retention seasons for the Columbia River upstream of Bonneville Dam during a hearing today.
Sturgeon retention fisheries in both The Dalles Pool and Bonneville Pool will be open two days per week (Wednesdays and Saturdays) from Jan. 1-29 or until the pool-specific quotas are reached. Anglers should be aware that fisheries in both pools have closed early in recent years due to high angler effort and catch rates that resulted in the harvest guidelines being reached prior to the scheduled season end date.
Fishery managers shifted to a days-per-week season structure for sturgeon retention several years ago to have time to assess and react to catch rates in real time, and to try to extend the fishery later into the year. But the fishery continues to see high interest from anglers and harvest guidelines can be met quickly when water temperature, weather, and on-the-water conditions are favorable.
The traditional opening date of Jan. 1 also contributes to a shortened retention season, as fishing effort and catch rates are high on the opening day holiday. During today’s hearing, there was some discussion of shifting away from a Jan. 1 opener in the future to provide more fishing days.
“It’s difficult to move away from Jan. 1 without a more thorough public process, as we know how important it is to a lot of people up there,” said Tucker Jones, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program Manager. “But considering the performance of these fisheries, I am skeptical that we will be able to offer a meaningful number of retention days without reconsidering a Jan. 1 opener in the future.”
The John Day Pool fishery will be open seven days per week in 2025, as listed in the permanent regulations, until the harvest guideline is met. This fishery has historically been slower to reach its catch guideline and has provided more opportunity than the Bonneville and The Dalles pools.
The current recreational harvest guidelines are 675, 275, and 105 white sturgeon for Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day pools, respectively. However, the Bonneville Pool guideline will be reassessed by fishery managers in late January 2025 after all stock assessment information is finalized.
Planned season dates follow but sturgeon anglers are reminded to always check regulation updates for the Columbia Zone before fishing as regulations can change quickly.
Bonneville Pool:
Season: Wednesdays and Saturdays, Jan. 1–29 (9 days)
Area: Mainstem Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam, and all adjacent tributaries
Allowable Catch: white sturgeon
Legal size: 38-inch minimum and 54-inch maximum fork length. Fork length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the nose to the fork in the caudal fin (tail) with the fish laying on its side on a flat surface, with the tape measure/ruler positioned flat under the fish.
Bag limit: One fish daily, two fish annually (applicable to any/all sturgeon retention fisheries)
The Dalles Pool:
Season: Wednesdays, and Saturdays Jan. 1 –29 (9 days total)
Area: Mainstem Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam, and all adjacent tributaries
Allowable Catch: white sturgeon
Legal size: 43-inch minimum and 54-inch maximum fork length. Fork length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the nose to the fork in the caudal fin (tail) with the fish laying on its side on a flat surface, with the tape measure/ruler positioned flat under the fish.
Bag limit: One fish daily, two fish annually (applicable to any/all sturgeon retention fisheries)
Catch-and-release sturgeon angling remains open all year, except angling for sturgeon is prohibited May 1 through Aug. 31 within the designated sanctuary areas in each of the dam tailraces.
What about the lower Columbia river. We have not had a Sturgeon fishery for years. There are plenty of fish in the lower river that are not trapped by Dams.you are only catering to the guides. Give the rest of us a chance. We pay for our license just like they do. Share the wealth.