Anglers mark your calendars because January 1, 2025, ushers in the new season of white sturgeon fishing on the Columbia River. According to a report from the Oregon and Washington fishery managers, specific sections of the river upstream of Bonneville Dam will be open for retention on select days, as announced in a joint state hearing on November 8.
Fishing enthusiasts will have the opportunity to venture out on Wednesdays and Saturdays, January 1–29 in the Bonneville Pool, spanning between Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam, and The Dalles Pool, which stretches between The Dalles Dam and John Day Dam. The John Day Pool opens its aquatic gates to daily sturgeon retention starting January 1, 2025. These windows will remain open until quotas specific to each pool are met, as noted on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's website.
This strategy of allocated fishing days, which was initiated in 2022, assists managers in monitoring catch rates, and managing the fishing effort. It's a move to ensure the sturgeon populations are not overfished and that the sport can continue sustainably. For those successful in their catch, the retaining rules are clear: anglers can keep one sturgeon per day and are capped at two per year across all retention fisheries.
The size rules are clear: in the Bonneville Pool, sturgeon must be 38 to 54 inches fork length, while in The Dalles and John Day pools, the range is 43 to 54 inches. On non-retention days, catch-and-release fishing is encouraged in Bonneville and The Dalles pools. The harvest quotas are set at 675 for Bonneville, 275 for The Dalles, and 105 for John Day, with a review of Bonneville's guidelines planned for January 2025.
Anglers are encouraged to check for any rule changes by reviewing emergency fishing regulations or using the Fish Washington® app before fishing. They can sign up for updates through the WDFW regulation alerts. For more details on white sturgeon in the Columbia River, Puget Sound, and coastal areas, including harvest totals, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
