Fellow Sportsmen,

I invested many hours working to clarify the new regulations for sturgeon fishing with Fish and Wildlife, both on the fisheries side and the enforcement side. I created a question and answer document that clears up several questions (see attached). Question number 1 is still a little gray. I also attached a listing of definitions that may help you make a better choice on what you decide to do. The goal is to protect the fish so we have a future sturgeon fishery.

There are still 2 issues that need more work. The first one is question #1 on the list - I am working to get approval for the use of a non locking snare when releasing a sturgeon in the water and the second is the regulation allowing anglers to land a 68-inch sturgeon. I believe the way they are written at this point causes more damage to the fishery than good. I need documented experiences to help with my work on this. I am working on a presentation for the Fish and Game Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 6, 2013 in Sacramento. I would appreciate any pictures and videos that any of you can send me, along with a narrative of what occurred. This information will help me show the commission why prohibiting a non locking snare when releasing a sturgeon in the water is harmful to the fish, and why there is a need to reduce the 68-inch landing measurement.

Thank You,
Captain Steve Talmadge
Flash Sport Fishing

The following questions and answers were submitted by Captain Steve Talmadge, Flash Sport Fishing to David Bess, Captain, Law Enforcement Division, California Department of Fish and Wildlife to clarify the new sturgeon regulations effective 1/1/13. David Bess verbally agreed with the answers as listed below with the exception of question #1. After further review, he emailed additional text to add to answers as listed to questions 1, 2 and 5 (** paragraphs are David's insertions).

1) Can anglers use a non-locking snare when their intent is to catch and release sturgeon? This way, anglers can keep the sturgeon in the water instead of using a net to land them onto a boat (to avoid damaging fins when using the net). Per the new Method of Take regulation "...nor shall any person use any type of firearm or snare to assist in landing or killing..." (CCR, Title 14, Sec. 5.80 and 27.90) As the angler has no intent to land or kill the sturgeon, it appears use of a snare is not prohibited when releasing a sturgeon in the water. My goal is to teach anglers attending the seminar how to release sturgeon safely. Based on my many years of experience catching & releasing sturgeon, non-locking snares cause much less damage to sturgeon than netting when keeping the sturgeon in the water.

* Answer: A loop may be used on a sturgeon when the angler intends to land or release the sturgeon, when the loop is locked into position (so that it cannot tighten on the fish) and the fish is kept in the water for the release.

** The intent of the regulation was to stop the use of snares in the taking of sturgeon. If a snare is used it can be viewed as a violation and a warden may cite that individual.

2) Do children (under 16 years of age) need to purchase a sturgeon report card when they are not targeting sturgeon specifically?

* Answer: No, children do not need to have a sturgeon report card if they are not targeting sturgeon.

** If a child catches and retains a sturgeon they must possess a sturgeon report card and follow the tagging requirements, even if the catch was not targeted.

3) If some anglers on the boat want to target sturgeon, and some don't, do all anglers on the boat have to purchase a sturgeon report card?

* Answer: No. Per email from Stafford Lehr, Chief, Fisheries Branch at California Department of Fish and Game; 01/11/13 7:57 AM

"If the angler is actively fishing for sturgeon they need a report card. If an angler chooses to keep a sturgeon when they are fishing for another species they would need a report card. Anglers not falling into those two categories do not need a report card."

4) If some anglers on the boat are targeting bass, and others targeting sturgeon, can the anglers targeting bass use barbed hooks while the others use barbless for sturgeon?

* Answer: Yes, anglers NOT targeting sturgeon may use a barbed hook. And, as posted by Marty Gingras, Supervising Biologist at California Department of Fish and Game, to the Coastside Fishing Club Forum at http://forums.coastsidefishingclub.com

"If a sturgeon is taken legally with barbless hook and then boated and tagged, the fisherman may then fish for stripers with a barbed hook while a sturgeon is on board." Posted on 01-12-2013, 08:14 AM

5) When an angler with a 2-rod stamp is targeting both bass and sturgeon at the same time, will they be allowed to have a barbless hook on one rod and a barbed hook on the other?

** In the scenario given above, if the angler states to the warden that he/she is using the barbless hook pole for sturgeon and the barbed hook pole for bass, that would NOT be a violation.

I spoke to Marty Gingras about this today. It will depend on what the angler says to the warden when questioned about what they are fishing for and how they articulate which pole/hook set up is being used for what. If the angler catches a sturgeon on the barbed hook set up of course they would have to release it as it WOULD be a violation to keep a sturgeon taken with illegal gear in relation to that species.

6) Please clarify the fishing requirements for pier fishing - how do anglers legally catch and release a sturgeon when pier fishing?

* Answer: It is up to the angler to determine how to legally land or release sturgeon from a pier without using a snare.

7) Is there a hook restriction size when fishing for sturgeon?

* Answer: No change to regulations. Refer to Freshwater Section 2.10 Hook & Weight Restrictions.

Captain Steve Talmadge
Flash Sport Fishing
flashfishing@talcorp.net
Captain David Bess
Law Enforcement Division
510 851-2500
California Department of Fish and Wildlife

* Answers submitted for review to David Bess, Captain, Law Enforcement Division, California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

** Insertions as received from David Bess, Captain, Law Enforcement Division, California Department of Fish and Wildlife via email to Steve Talmadge on 1/24/13.

Using a Snare
Where can I view the Department of Fish and Wildlife's definition of "Landing"? I tried to find one on the Department of Fish and Wildlife website and was unsuccessful. The only definitions of "landing" I have been able to find related to fishing are from dictionaries and they define "landing" as:

1) verb "Angling. to bring (a fish) to land, or into a boat, etc., as with a hook or a net."

2) noun "an instance of coming or bringing something to land, either from the air or from water"

Per Webster's dictionary,

Landing
an instance of coming or bringing something to land, either from the air or from water

Snare
a trap for catching birds or animals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord.

Noose
a loop with a running knot, tightening as the rope or wire is pulled and typically used to hang people or trap animals.


Lets build a strong Sturgeon Fishery!
Captain Steve Talmadge
Flash Sport Fishing