34 minutes ago, Fishingframes said:

I always abide by the law wherever I fish and practice catch and release but do enjoy the occasional harvest. Never sturgeon, this was my first time catching Sturgeon.  

 

On the Canadian side in the province of Quebec, not Ontario - fishing for Sturgeon is legal and there is a 1 posession limit in a specific slot size.  

 

The guide we went with was super knowledgable about the fishery and will not take anyone if you plan on harvesting. 

 

I sense there may be a chance is the commercial fisheries soon, and a potential Catch and release only for recreational anglers.  

 

Sturgeon are incredible. Acrobatic, bulldogging and long runs.   It's a shame the fish was considered a nuisance.   I read years back, they use to harvest sturgeon by the thousands in the Detroit river and use the fish as fuel for the boats because of their oily flesh.  Crazy!!

I apologize for the rant and disparagement of your sportsmanship.

It would have been helpful to know you were in the tidal portion of the river, below Lake St Francis.  I erroneously assumed you were above the dams because the forum deals with Lake Ontario.  The area in question contains both Lake and Atlantic Sturgeon, and one may be kept if it is between 80 cm (32") and 130 cm (52").  But just posting a picture without the full locational information could bring on a stampede of people into the NYS or Ontario waters looking for these big fish, where they are still threatened and efforts are still underway at restoration.  They were wiped out in the Genesee River by overharvest, and they used them for fuel on the boats that travelled across the lake to Coburg, Ontario.  There is a fairly successful resotoration project there, but we are always having to remind people to leave them alone.

How does one legally fish for sturgeon? Looks awesome!

There is NO STURGEON FISHERY IN NYS OR ONTARIO WATERS OF THE GL.

There are some west coast states where you can legally target sturgeon.

From DEC:

"

DEC Advises Anglers to be on the Lookout for Lake Sturgeon in the Great Lakes and Oneida Lake

Anglers should be aware of spawning lake sturgeon in tributaries of the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, Finger Lakes and Oneida Lake, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today advised.

"The return of lake sturgeon to spawn in New York state's tributaries reflects well on efforts by DEC and our partners to restore this valuable native species," said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. "These fish have been part of New York's natural landscape for thousands of years and through sound management they will remain here for future generations to enjoy. It's extremely important that anglers fishing these waters are aware of the presence of spawning sturgeon and take all measures to avoid catching them."

Last season, DEC staff received numerous reports of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) caught by anglers around the state. Lake sturgeon are listed as a threatened species in New York; therefore, there is no open season for the fish and possession is prohibited. Anglers who unintentionally hook one should follow these practices to ensure the fish is returned to the water unharmed:

• Avoid bringing the fish into the boat if possible.
• Use pliers to remove the hook; sturgeon are almost always hooked in the mouth.
• Always support the fish horizontally. Do not hold sturgeon in a vertical position by their head, gills or tails, even for taking pictures.
• Never touch their eyes or gills.
• Minimize their time out of the water.

Anglers are much more likely to encounter sturgeon in May and June when the fish gather to spawn on clean gravel, cobble shoals and in stream rapids.

Lake sturgeon populations are recovering as a result of protection and stocking efforts by DEC and partners. Since 1994, lake sturgeon have been periodically stocked by DEC into Black Lake, Cayuga Lake, the Genesee River, Oneida Lake, the Oswegatchie River, Raquette River, St. Lawrence River, and St. Regis River. Lake sturgeon are often tagged as part of ongoing studies conducted by state or federal agencies and their partners. If a tagged sturgeon is found, it's important to follow the reporting instructions on the tag or contact a regional DEC office for assistance.

Lake sturgeon are an ancient fish that first appeared during the Upper Cretaceous period 136 million years ago when dinosaurs still walked the earth. Lake sturgeon are one of three species of sturgeon native to New York, the others being shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon. Lake sturgeon are native to the Mississippi River Basin, Great Lakes Basin and Hudson Bay region of North America. They are the largest fish native to the Great Lakes, growing up to seven or more feet in length and weighing up to 300 pounds. Male sturgeon live as long as 55 years and females live as long as 80 to 150 years.

Lake sturgeon were once abundant in New York, but commercial fishing, dam building and habitat loss decimated populations. Today they can still be found in Lake Erie, Niagara River, Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, Genesee River, Grasse River, Oswegatchie River, Black Lake, Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, Oneida Lake, Oneida River, Seneca River, Oswego River and Cayuga Canal.

For further information on lake sturgeon in New York and other threatened or endangered fish can be found on the DEC website:

Lake Sturgeon Fact Sheet

Endangered & Threatened Fishes of New York

Lake Sturgeon Restoration

19 minutes ago, jk1 said:

Half those endangered fish I do not know.....jk

Most of those species, you would not normally encounter, they are small minnow type fish that are not sought after. 

The St Lawrence is zone 20, and there is no open season for sturgeon.   It is also illegal to target closed season fish in Canada, C+R or not.   The sturgeon restoration project is not inexpensive, and the last thing it needs is low lifes masquerading as sportsmen potentially injuring these fish for their personal gratification and "bucket lists."  

From the LOU policy for the site:

Lake Ontario United (LOU) is a socially responsible community who strongly supports the efforts of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the common goal of eliminating the illegal snagging of trout & salmon and promotion of ethical sport fishing techniques.

Snatching/Snagging means taking fish that have not taken or attempted to take bait or artificial lure into their mouth, by impaling the fish with one or more hooks or similar devices, whether or not baited, into any part of their body. Snatching is indicated by repeated or exaggerated jerking motions of the fishing rod. Snagging, lifting, and single hook snagging are types of snagging.

To help do our environmental duty and keep our precious tributaries clean of illegal activity, we ask all LOU members to report any environmental violation witnessed. To do this, please call 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332) or email [email protected] with the subject title "Report an environmental violation". The DEC will always keep your identity safe and confidential.

DEC Regional Office Directory:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/558.html

A special thank you to all LOU members who aid in the prevention of illegal activity each and every day of the year. It is the combined efforts of individuals like yourself and the DEC that can really make a difference.

I think the owner and sponsors of this site would agree that targeting endangered and threatened species rates the same consideration and reponde as snagging illegally.  For one thing, sturgeon don't die after spawning, take 10+ years for the males and a lot longer than the females to reach spawning size and can live for more than 50 years.  LEAVE THE STURGEON ALONE!

"Endangered and threatened fish

It is illegal to fish for, or possess fish that are officially listed by DEC as endangered or threatened:

• Endangered: silver chub, bluebreast darter, deepwater sculpin, gilt darter, pugnose shiner, round whitefish, shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon and spoonhead sculpin.
• Threatened: eastern sand darter, lake chubsucker, lake sturgeon, northern (longear) sunfish, mooneye, gravel chub, banded sunfish, longhead darter, swamp darter, spotted darter and mud sunfish.

Any unintentionally caught threatened or endangered fish species must be unhooked and released immediately. They may not be handled for any purpose other than removing the hook and placing them back into the water."

Intentionally seeking sturgeon is bad for the fish and a violation of the law.

I don't think that there is any possibility currently of cutting king salmon, regardless of what noise was made by some stakeholders.  It would require a major rethinking of policy by the Great Lakes Committee, and they are currently focused on maintenance of the trophy king fishery.    I think that if there were a bait collapse like in the upper GL, the discussions could go that way, but they are working hard to prevent a bait collapse, and the Fish Community Objectives emphasize the trophy king as the top pelagic predator, with fishable populations of browns, cohoes, and steelhead, with the lake trout as the top benthic predator. 

"Kokanee Salmon (sockeye salmon)

Kokanee, also called red salmon, are the landlocked form of sockeye salmon. When confined to fresh water, as they are in New York, kokanee are the smallest of the Pacific salmon, rarely exceeding 15 inches in length or one pound. Despite their small size, kokanee are highly regarded sportfish because their orange-red flesh makes a tasty meal.

The kokanee salmon is found in only a few lakes and ponds in New York State. They occur at all depths when water temperatures are cool in the spring and fall, but during summer most of their time is spent in deeper waters where temperatures are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Kokanee are unusual among the salmonids, as they are highly dependent on plankton for food throughout their life. Their gills have many long, straining filaments called gill rakers, which help them capture planktonic organisms very efficiently.

During the fall, kokanee seek small streams for spawning. At this time, the males attain the brilliant green-head red-body color combination commonly associated with their sea-run brethren the sockeye. Female kokanee exhibit similar colors during the spawning season, but the color is less intense than in the males.

Kokanee may be caught by anglers using small spinners, spoons, and even artificial flies, but one of the most effective methods is to fish with a piece of worm baited on a small hook. A spinner or other attractor should be attached above the worm and hook."

NYS dropped Kokanee a few years back, but they persist in a couple of Adirondack Lakes.  While I have read that in some western lakes, Rainbows achieve large size feeding on Kokanee, I have never heard of a predator pretty relationship between Kings and Kokanees.  Kings are herring feeders, that is why they work for alewife control, and according to the biologists, they do not readily go after alternate prey, as do Cohos, Steelhead, Browns and Lakers, which is why the kings are at risk if the adult herring population declines.

Obtaining additional fish (genetic material) from other states is not really possible with the disease protocols in place now. 

This was a pretty good year for Atlantics returning to the Salmon River, starting in May and continuing through the summer, so while they may not contribute a lot to the open lake fishery, they could be very important to the tributary fishery, if the population continues to improve.   And they are native to the lake.   What tastes good is a matter of personal taste, I have had LO coho in the spring and ADK Atlantics, and I'd take the Landlocked Salmon any day, but of course those fish are feeding on smelt and perch, not oily herring.  

15 hours ago, rolmops said:

When I get caught in combat trolling  I usually put on the sharpened  keels on my otter boats and run them  at about 20 feet on each side. This makes for an educational experience for certain captains who believe that they can bully their way through the crowd

I had a friend who fished Summerville Pier.  Some guys would make the turn out of the river and come down the pier close and pull all the bait rods.  He carried out a snagging rod with 30 lb, next guy that came in close he cast over the guys spread, pulled all the guys lines, and cut the j-plugs off.  They headed for a ladder to come after him, but stopped when they saw about 30 irate pier anglers ready to back my friend.  STAY AWAY FROM THE PIERS!

I have no great love for the kings, but can understand the necessity of maintaining the population for alewife control.  I do know a lot of tributary anglers, and non anglers in the scientific community, that would be happy if the kings went packing, but I don't think the trib anglers understand that if the kings went away, so would the steelhead, probably.  I do not want to see Lake Ontario evolve into another Lake Michigan with 10 lbers the norm, or, worse yet, Huron, where it is unlikely that they will ever re-establish the fishery they had, and these actions are implemented tp reduce the risk of that, so getting the word out is a good thing.

The graph is the result of the trawls.  Robust 5 year old numbers, very weak 3,4,6, and 7. 

They are native to the lake, a federal priority for reestablishment, and grow slowly and eat other than alewives, They are the top  benthic predator.  Just because you see no value in them does not mean they have no value, there are a lot of folks who target them if nothing else is hitting.  Cutting all of them would likely not have the effect on stabilizing the bait that the conservative cut to them and kings will have.

There are a lot of people who would not loose any sleep at all if the king population collapsed completely.

Glad you had such a good time!

. 

2015 is out there, but is not a huge population.  2014 and 2013 are the " hole." ( Ages 3 and 4, the red and blue bars)   Caution is required to insure both adequate adult spawners and adequate adult "chow" for the kings.

4 minutes ago, rdebadts said:

Wong be able to measure those until next spring. This year's yoy was record setting large this spring! We just need to get those fish to adulthood (3+) and we will be golden.


The Fishin' Physician Assistant

Also need a couple of more good hatches to back 2016 up, and need to see the 2013-15 "hole" in the population work itself out of there.   Unless high water effects alewife spawning, it should have been good in 2017, my back says it was a really mild winter, except for that one heavy storm mid-march.

Here's the official announcement with the correct times and locations:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html

DEC Announces Lake Ontario Fisheries Meetings

Current Salmon and Trout Stocking Levels will be Maintained in 2018

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that the public will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the upcoming 2018 Lake Ontario salmon and trout stocking. Public meetings to gather input will be held in Oswego, Niagara, and Monroe counties in September.

"Lake Ontario and its tributaries provide world-class salmon and trout angling opportunities," Commissioner Basil Seggos said. "Salmon and trout fishing in Lake Ontario continues to be outstanding and DEC remains committed to ensuring that the ecological, recreational and economic benefits of Lake Ontario's sport fisheries are sustained through management practices based on cutting-edge science."

Survey results in 2016 revealed poor survival of Alewife produced in 2013 and 2014, which will result in negative impacts on the adult population of this important prey species in future years. To protect the valuable fishery, the DEC and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) adjusted stocking levels for Chinook Salmon and Lake Trout down 20 percent in 2017 to reduce predator demand on adult Alewife.

Alewife survey results from 2017 confirmed the ongoing impacts of poor Alewife production in 2013 and 2014 on the overall population, but also revealed record numbers of young Alewife produced in 2016. The record numbers of Alewife produced in 2016 is promising, but additional strong Alewife reproduction and survival is needed in upcoming years to rebuild the adult population. In an ongoing effort to effectively manage Lake Ontario fisheries for long-term benefits, DEC and OMNRF will maintain the 2017 stocking targets in 2018. The combined 2018 salmon and trout stocking total will exceed 4.6 million fish, and managers are optimistic that good fishing will continue.

During these public meetings, staff from DEC will present information and the public will have the opportunity to ask questions. Overview for Discussions regarding 2018 Salmon and Trout Stocking Levels in Lake Ontario is available on DEC's website.

Members of the public that cannot attend a meeting can provide comments via email to: [email protected]. For further information, please contact Steve LaPan, New York Great Lakes Fisheries Section Head, at the Cape Vincent Fisheries Research Station, (315) 654-2147.

The meeting dates and locations are:

• Monday, September 11: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Donald Schleiter Lodge and Pavillion, 199 East Manitou Road in Braddock Bay Park, Rochester, Monroe County.
• Tuesday, September 12: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Pulaski High School auditorium, 4624 Salina Street, Pulaski, Oswego County.
• Wednesday, September 13: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, Niagara County.

I had other plans but I cancelled them when I saw the schedule!  See you then. 

I never thought of you as conservative, just reasonable, open minded, and scientific!

Yes, I think your idea of a "token" increase to help create positive spin has merit, but please remember that I'm one of the people who worries that these levels of adjustment may actually be insufficient to restore stability to the herring population.   I contacted MCFAB about changing their meeting so that members of that board can attend.  It should be an interesting meeting if we can get more people out than were there last year.

Thanks, Jerry.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/111196.html

This is an agency decision that has been presented as fiat accompli to some of the stakeholders with the caveat that it not be discussed prior to public release by NYSDEC, but it is on the website now, so please read. I am in the process of trying to obtain the dates and locations for the meetings, (I was on a stakeholder call but had less than great cellular reception), which are, I believe, the week after next.  I know some of the other participants on the call  are regulars on this site, perhaps one of them will post the schedule.

I think the data is very supportive of the decision and with the precarious status of the adult baitfish population out through 2020, a resumption of full predator load would carry an unacceptable risk. I know a lot of charter operators disagree.

On ‎8‎/‎27‎/‎2017 at 9:54 AM, fisherdude said:

Yes it is just keep trimmed up to get away from the ramp a little bit and then it's fine

Sent from my XT1609 using Lake Ontario United mobile app
 

What about those two trees you have to drive between when you are coming into the site.  Are they far enough apart to accommodate bigger boats?

You could have been in one of the Canadian provinces that requires you to hire a guide to fish for Atlantic Salmon.  Most of the guides don't know one end of the rod from another, they just sit along shore and smoke and take your dollars.  I would like to see reciprocal licensing so if people from those provinces come to NY to fish for salmon, they would be required to hire a guide as well.  

Off Rochester, south wind in the summer pushes warm surface water offshore, which causes a draw of colder deeper water into the nearshore under the warm wind driven surface water.  North wind should do the opposite.  This is a simplification of the process, and how much it occurs will depends on shore orientation and how strong the wind is, and likely other factors, and it can be somewhat localized, but it is a start.    I would say that a strong North wind will delay staging at the river mouths as it could put a lot of fish back out deeper.   Oswego may be more complicated because of Mexico Bay, and the East shore impacts.

The Town of Irondequoit Launch in the Northwest corner of Irondequoit Bay opened this morning, $6.00 to launch, still 5 mph speed limit and no wake on the bay.  The Lake is dropping, Master's Stone on Empire Blvd finally had a dry parking lot two days ago for the first time I've seen since March. 

I have not heard of folks on this side of the Lake jigging, but Andy Todd from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources told me that they do a lot of jigging for the kings on the Canadian side of the lake.  You may want to check out some Canadian posts.

Here is the DEC page for Little Sodus Bay:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/108693.html