You should add 4mm reflective perimeter line, riveting or bolting in pad-eyes every 1.5ft or so on the deck near the outer edge in front of and behind the cockpit.

It distributes the weight during carry to several points, gives a more balanced carry, gives you something to grab onto should you ditch in surf, and makes the boat more visible in low light conditions. You can’t lose! Those suitcase handles are just ridiculous! I don’t think whoever designed them ever carried the boat that way.

Commercial fishing is only allocated a few hundred fish. They have also only been allowed 8 commercial fishing days this year, which finished up this last week. I’m not sure what their actual take was, but I know their efforts were not well rewarded.

In years past, anglers have had a quota of about 40,000 fish. It’s been a few years since anglers have caught that many fish, and now biologists are saying that there are not enough sturgeon. This year that number has been dropped to 19,200 fish – about 1,000 fish fewer than anglers took last year.

The regulations can be confusing, so I’ll post them here. Not all that important for you, but gives you an idea of what anglers have to work with:

Columbia River from Buoy 10 (mouth) to Wauna power lines (River Mile 40)

Retention of white sturgeon is allowed seven days a week Jan. 1 – April 30, with a daily bag limit of one fish with a fork length of between 38 and 54 inches. This area is closed to retention of white sturgeon May 1-May 21. The season reopens seven days a week from May 22 through June 26, or until the harvest guideline is achieved, with a daily bag limit of one fish with a fork length of 41 to 54 inches.

Columbia River from Wauna power lines upstream to Bonneville Dam (including all adjacent Washington tributaries)

Retention of white sturgeon is allowed three days a week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Jan. 1 – July 31 and Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, or until the harvest guideline is achieved. Daily bag limit is one white sturgeon with a fork length of 38 to 54 inches. Angling for sturgeon is prohibited from the upstream end of Skamania Island at River Marker #82 upstream to Bonneville Dam May 1 – Aug. 31.

Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam

This area is expected to reach the harvest guideline of 1,400 fish on Feb. 20, 2010 and will close to retention of white sturgeon effective 12:01 a.m. Feb. 21. Catch-and-release sturgeon angling will remain open.
Now closed as of last night

Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam

This area is open to retention of white sturgeon seven days a week under permanent rules from Jan. 1 until the annual harvest guideline of 300 fish is met. The legal size limit for retention in this area is 43-54 inches fork length.

Columbia River from John Day Dam to McNary Dam

This area is expected to reach the harvest guideline of 165 fish Feb. 28, 2010 and will close to retention of white sturgeon effective 12:01 a.m. March 1. Catch-and-release sturgeon angling will remain open.

Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls including the Multnomah Channel

Retention of white sturgeon is allowed three days a week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Jan. 1 – March 31 and Nov. 1 – Dec. 31. Daily bag limit is one white sturgeon with a fork length of 38 to 54 inches. On the Willamette, angling for sturgeon is prohibited from the I-205 Bridge upstream to Willamette Falls May 1 – Aug. 31.

How to they estimate how many were caught? They do fly-overs to count the number of boats on the water. Those at anchor are likely sturgeon fishing. Fish and Wildlife officers will talk to anglers as they leave the water to see how what they caught, or didn’t. Anglers also have to report their catch annually, with general location info. All these things add up to a decent estimation of the angling take.

Confused enough?

I carry my Big Game to the garage using one handle whilst the other hand holding a scupper hole. The air will certainly go blue when a handle snaps on me.

Thanks!