Recreational sturgeon seasons in Bonneville and The Dalles pools will close effective Saturday, March 25, under rules announced today by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington.

The states decided to close these two sturgeon sport fisheries based on recently improving catch rates. Catch projections indicate the recreational sturgeon quota in The Dalles Pool will be met as of Friday March 24. For Bonneville Pool, fishery managers wanted to leave enough sturgeon in the balance to support a one- or two-day summer sturgeon fishery.

Sturgeon fishing remains open in John Day Pool, where 62 sturgeon remain from the 105-fish harvest guideline.

Retention sturgeon fishing is closed below Bonneville dam and below Willamette Falls under permanent sport fishing regulations.

Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing remains open in all of these waters.