PITTSBURG– After approval from the Fish and Game Commission during their August 15 meeting, sport fishing for white sturgeon is anticipated to open around October 1 for catch-and-release only, pending approval from the Office of Administrative Law. The new white sturgeon sport fishing regulations specify two seasons to protect spawning and migrating fish and to reduce stress during warmer times of the year:
(1) From Oct. 1 through June 30: For ocean waters and San Francisco Bay east to downstream of the confluence of the Feather River on the Sacramento River and downstream of the I-5 bridge on the San Joaquin River.
(2) Anglers are still required to have a valid Sturgeon Fishing Report Card in their possession.
The new regulations also specify expanded handling requirements: Any sturgeon greater than 60 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and shall be released immediately. Previously this requirement was set at any sturgeon greater than 68 inches. Additionally, sturgeon of any size shall not be held out of the water suspended by the gills, gill plates, mouth or solely by the tail, and shall not be dragged across the ground, boat decks or piers.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) press release, ‘“The best available science suggests that non-lethal take via a catch-and-release fishery would not harm the long-term viability of white sturgeon in California.” Catch-and-release fishing for white sturgeon has proven popular and lucrative elsewhere, including in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia, Canada, where catch and release fisheries were implemented decades ago to protect declining populations.’ SF Baykeeper, a key organization in the submission of the California Endangered Species Act petition, is supportive of a catch-and-release fishery.
CDFW additionally stated that a complete fishing closure represented a “financial crisis to Californians who rely on this fishery as part of their business. This includes boat captains, fishing guides and businesses that rely on anglers such as bait and tackle store and suppliers, marinas and other boat services.” It will be up to the many who have testified at Fish and Game Commission meetings that the is no problem with the sturgeon population to show their support for the party boat captains by participating in catch-and-release during the interim period when data is collected to determine is the species meets the criteria as ‘threatened’ for the California Endangered Species Act.
The 2024 Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is due to for return by January 31, 2025, and this is once again an opportunity for those who have been critical of the data collection to complete and submit their report cards. In the past, just over 30% of the Sturgeon Report Cards have been submitted, leaving the department lacking an important piece of angler-generated data. There is also an October 31, 2024, deadline for submitting public comments and outside data to the department as a comprehensive status report of the species is being developed to assist the Fish and Game Commission in the final decision regarding the status of white sturgeon. All comments and data should be submitted to sturgeon@willidfe.ca.gov and include “White Sturgeon CESA” in the subject line.
