June 21, 2016
Action: Allow harvest of sturgeon
Effective Dates: July 1 through Sept. 30, 2016
Species affected: White sturgeon between 38 and 72 inches fork length
Location: Priest Rapids Reservoir (from Priest Rapids Dam to Wanapum Dam) and Wanapum Reservoir (from Wanapum Dam to Rock Island Dam)
Reason for action: Hatchery-origin white sturgeon residing in Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs since the early 2000's are abundant and have grown to a harvestable size. Removal of these hatchery-origin fish is consistent with ongoing actions to rebuild depressed populations of wild-origin White Sturgeon in Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs.
Other information:
Daily limit of two (2) sturgeon between 38 and 72 inches fork length may be harvested from Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs only.
No annual harvest limit of sturgeon between 38 and 72 inches fork length from Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs only.
Anglers are not required to record sturgeon harvested from Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs on a Catch Record Card.
Catch-and-release fishing is allowed in Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs after the daily limit is harvested.
Any sturgeon not to be harvested must be released immediately. Oversized sturgeon cannot be removed totally or in part from the water.
Night fishing for sturgeon is prohibited.
Only one single-point barbless hook and bait is allowed while fishing for sturgeon.
Anglers may fish with two poles with the purchase of a Two-Pole Endorsement license.
In the field, anglers must retain eggs with intact carcass of fish from which they came.
All closed water areas in and around Wanapum, Priest Rapids, and Rock Island dams are still in effect. Check the current sport fishing rules pamphlet for complete details (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/).
Daily and annual limits, harvestable slot length limits, Catch Record Card recording requirements, and all other sport fishing rules governing sturgeon harvest in all other legally open fisheries still apply.
Information Contact: Chad Jackson, District Fish Biologist, (509) 754-4624, ext. 250 or Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624, ext. 224
Effective Dates: July 1 through Sept. 30, 2016
Species affected: White sturgeon between 38 and 72 inches fork length
Location: Priest Rapids Reservoir (from Priest Rapids Dam to Wanapum Dam) and Wanapum Reservoir (from Wanapum Dam to Rock Island Dam)
Reason for action: Hatchery-origin white sturgeon residing in Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs since the early 2000's are abundant and have grown to a harvestable size. Removal of these hatchery-origin fish is consistent with ongoing actions to rebuild depressed populations of wild-origin White Sturgeon in Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs.
Other information:
Daily limit of two (2) sturgeon between 38 and 72 inches fork length may be harvested from Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs only.
No annual harvest limit of sturgeon between 38 and 72 inches fork length from Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs only.
Anglers are not required to record sturgeon harvested from Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs on a Catch Record Card.
Catch-and-release fishing is allowed in Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs after the daily limit is harvested.
Any sturgeon not to be harvested must be released immediately. Oversized sturgeon cannot be removed totally or in part from the water.
Night fishing for sturgeon is prohibited.
Only one single-point barbless hook and bait is allowed while fishing for sturgeon.
Anglers may fish with two poles with the purchase of a Two-Pole Endorsement license.
In the field, anglers must retain eggs with intact carcass of fish from which they came.
All closed water areas in and around Wanapum, Priest Rapids, and Rock Island dams are still in effect. Check the current sport fishing rules pamphlet for complete details (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/).
Daily and annual limits, harvestable slot length limits, Catch Record Card recording requirements, and all other sport fishing rules governing sturgeon harvest in all other legally open fisheries still apply.
Information Contact: Chad Jackson, District Fish Biologist, (509) 754-4624, ext. 250 or Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624, ext. 224