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From my personal experience fishing the Gatineau from 1989 I can say
that year by year the amount of sturgeon we catch and size of fish getting noticeably smaller.
This is by no means scientific study (perhaps we just suck at it )but
I find it alarming.
Most shocking for me is walleye size and numbers on the Ottawa River
but that's another sad story.
From my personal experience fishing the Gatineau from 1989 I can say
that year by year the amount of sturgeon we catch and size of fish getting noticeably smaller.
This is by no means scientific study (perhaps we just suck at it )but
I find it alarming.
Most shocking for me is walleye size and numbers on the Ottawa River
but that's another sad story.
From the number of reports on this forum about sturgeon as incidental catches through the ice, I'd say there are still a few around the Ottawa R.
Well do I remember fishing Constance Bay in the 70s and seeing them jump and hit the water like a log. KERSPLASH. The commercial fisher still does pretty well with them.
There are substantial populations in the Gatineau and Coulonge Rivers locally in Quebec for instance. Ask me how I know.
Just because the breeding populations require older fish, it does not mean they are endangered, just vulnerable to abuse. Be reasonable is all.
Hey Guys, I don't want to stick my nose in the whole debate, but in regards to the 15 foot sturgeon....I remember watching a fishing show in the late 90's(can't remember the host's name....something Parker maybe???)
Anyway, they were fishing the Columbia River(Columbus?) on the Washington & Oregon border....These guys were catching massive sturgeon...and I mean massive.
They caught many fish, but I can remember them measuring one at approximately 14 feet....the others were not far behind....
I'd have no problem hooking on to one of those daddys
I'm not convinced sturgeon are in any kind of danger on the Ottawa. Between my neighbor (Spike), my wife and I, hit double digits of incidental sturgeon catches while walleye fishing this past winter, and those sturgeon were caught from a number of different spots. A few were even into the 20lbs range. Weights varied from 3lbs to 25lbs. Seems like a healthy population to me. I've also caught quite a few in the fall while walleye fishing. I don't know what the sturgeon fishing was like back in the day, but I really don't see a problem with it now even in Ontario. I can't speak about the Quebec fishery, but I trust that they the MRNF is competent enough to manage the sturgeon fishery in a way that is both responsible and beneficial.
I have also noticed/caught more sturgeon in the Ottawa than ever before in the last few years and have fished it for over 30 yrs.
There is some serious blind tree hugging going on here though by people who obviously have no clue what they are talking about and no evidence or surveys to back themselves up.
I think this site should kick out posters that hassle other anglers for lawful activities period.
Life is no fun!.....Eli!.........are you guys fisheries technoligists? Biologists?
How do you think you know more than those people?
Life is no fun posted a musky once that he thought was a pike....................seriously!
I know that I am "arguing" a different point of view than Eli and Lifeisfun... but I think that they are not in this discussion to be obtuse or mean or whatever... I am no fan of their approach... but I am quite certain that they have only the best in mind for the fishery.
Give them credit where credit is due.
If there was some evidence of any sport fish in danger in a given area, I would be behind a moratorium or tougher laws about their harvesting 100%.
It is important to periodically question laws or rules to make sure that they are pertinent or effective.
People like Lifeisfun and Eli, I suppose, could serve as some of those who would call these rules into question for better or worse.
I hope you guys take these concerns to the ministry and find out if and when a review is coming.
cprince wrote:I know that I am "arguing" a different point of view than Eli and Lifeisfun... but I think that they are not in this discussion to be obtuse or mean or whatever... I am no fan of their approach... but I am quite certain that they have only the best in mind for the fishery.
Give them credit where credit is due.
If there was some evidence of any sport fish in danger in a given area, I would be behind a moratorium or tougher laws about their harvesting 100%.
It is important to periodically question laws or rules to make sure that they are pertinent or effective.
People like Lifeisfun and Eli, I suppose, could serve as some of those who would call these rules into question for better or worse.
I hope you guys take these concerns to the ministry and find out if and when a review is coming.
Craig
Not only a farmer but a politician...Most appropriate reponse to negative posts in a long time. You just gained another notch of respect with me Craig. You sure you arn't from Lanark County??? You would fit in just fine here. Good on you for taking the responses of some and not gutting them apart. They gave their opinions and you did not bash it. If I could put a clapping icon here I would..."CLAP...CLAP...CLAP"
Fishing isn't a matter of life and death....
It's much more important.
Why don't you just go buy some sturgeon meat and see if you like it first? I sure you could find some in the city and then if you don't like you won't waste one.
Most species of sturgeons are currently considered either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered but obviously its your call.
What I was getting at with my post to Craig is this...........If all of you on here keep bitching and yelling at each other all the time guess what...Your opinions will not matter to anyone because the mods will lock the thread....then we will all go to another post and do the same. Shut up...give your opinion and take others as they are.............OPINIONS. Jeez am I really having to explain this to everyone! Keep it clean, friendly and the opinions expressed will be kept unlocked. Really guys what does it get you to have good threads locked.
Unbelievable some times.
Sorry for my rant and OPINION....take it or leave it!
Fishing isn't a matter of life and death....
It's much more important.
almontefisher wrote:What I was getting at with my post to Craig is this..........
I got ya! Thanks Peter.
I am not above anything when it comes to mud slinging... but sometimes, someone says something that I do not agree with, but when you understand their motivations, it sort of puts it all into a different context.
)but
Now pay for my new keyboard you made me reck with my drink!!!!