New NW Oregon Coastal Cutthroat Regs

I just came across this...  sounds like AOTY will see some new cutthroat action next year.

Brian

Commission adopts 2009 sport fishing regulations

    
Date:

September 19, 2008

Contact:

Rick Hargrave (503) 947-6020
Jessica Sall (503) 947-6023
Michelle Dennehy 503-947-6022

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – For the first time since 1997, Oregon anglers will have the opportunity to keep trout caught in north coast rivers and streams. That and other 2009 sport fishing regulations were adopted by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday.

The new regulations, effective Jan. 1, 2009, lift the catch-and-release only restriction for cutthroat trout in the Northwest Zone and will allow anglers to harvest up to two trout a day from May 25 to Oct. 31. Lower Columbia River tributaries will remain closed to trout harvest.

ODFW biologists briefed commissioners that there was no biological basis for continuing the harvest restrictions and recommended proposal 150P be adopted. The proposal reestablished the modest harvest of trout in all rivers and streams in the Northwest Zone, north of the Salmon River.

 “Cutthroat populations on the north coast are widespread and stable,” said Robert Bradley, ODFW fish biologist from Tillamook.

Bradley described the daily bag limit of two fish with a minimum length of eight inches as “a conservative proposal modeled on the successful cutthroat fishery that has existed on the mid and south coast for the past eight years.”

Proponents of proposal 132P, which would have eliminated wild trout harvest in both the Northwest and Southwest Zones, testified that it would help protect native cutthroat trout populations. Others, however, argued that it would deny young and novice anglers the opportunity to take a fish home.

The Commission voted unanimously to accept the staff recommendations on both 150P and 132P.

This is great news! Thanks Brian

Here's the language from the report on adopted ODFW measures..

All Coastal Rivers NW Zone, Neskowin Creek and north but
excluding the Columbia River and Tributaries
• Reinstate limited consumptive angling for coastal cutthroat trout.
• Existing Rules: General Northwest Zone trout regulations for streams; catchand-
release Neskowin Creek and north (including Lower Columbia River
tributaries), Salmon River and south, 2 trout per day 8-inch minimum length.
• Proposed Rule: Restore limited consumptive trout angling on north coast
streams in the NW Zone constant with SW Zone coastal streams. Necanicum
River and South (includes Neacozie/Neawanna), season: fourth Saturday in May
– Oct. 31, 2 trout per day, 2 days in possession, 8-inch minimum length, angling
restricted to artificial flies and lures unless otherwise specified.
Rationale: Provide increased fishing opportunities that allow harvest of fish at a
level that is sustainable. Proposed fishing opportunities provide a sociological
value of the outdoor experience. This rule change would be consistent with rules
for the other coastal area streams.(John Powell, William Lackner, and David
Duncan)

I don't know if you all know how close we came to losing the mid and south coast fishery on cutthroat.  The addition of the north coast didn't come without an extensive battle challenging misconstrued data from an elitist fishing group.

Thanks should go to ODFW MidCoast District Biologist Bob Buckman who rallied those with hard factual data to the cause and the 20+ of us that testified.  Expect to see this decision challenged again.

Greg
2009 ODFW Angling Regulations Review Board