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Columbia sturgeon fishing will reopen Jan. 1

The winter portion of sturgeon season in Bonneville pool of the mid-Columbia River will open Jan. 1 and continue through Feb. 10 or until 1,150 fish are retained by anglers.

Published: Dec. 23, 2012 at 12:05 a.m. PST
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The winter portion of sturgeon season in Bonneville pool of the mid-Columbia River will open Jan. 1 and continue through Feb. 10 or until 1,150 fish are retained by anglers.

A summer portion of the retention season is anticipated in mid-June, similar to 2012.

Washington and Oregon officials approved the Bonneville pool sturgeon sport-fishing rules Tuesday.

Sturgeon retention in the Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day pools is closed currently because each reached its catch allocation. All three reopen Jan. 1.

John North of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said the interim 2013 harvest guideline for Bonneville pool is 2,000 sturgeon.

But the number might increase.

A state-federal-tribal sturgeon management team will review 2012 data on Jan. 22 and might increase the harvest guideline. The harvest level is not expected to drop, North added.

Yet to be decided is what happens downstream of Bonneville Dam.

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