Oregon fish
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Sturgeon in Oregon
Where Oregon sturgeon turn up, and how many go home.
- release onlybag
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Oregon fish
sturgeon and the ODFW zone tables
A stand-alone sturgeon row shows up in 9 zone tables. As printed for the Northwest Zone: Catch-and-release only.
Start with Sturgeon Lake, Willamette River and Columbia River; 12 Oregon water pages carry it. Separate rules apply on 8 waters, Tillamook Bay and Tillamook River among them.
release onlyNorthwest Zone bag
none listedOregon record
12water pages
26exceptions
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Oregon sturgeon limits zone by zone
| Zone | Row as printed | Bag and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Streams: (including tidewaters and bays): Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons. |
| Southwest Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Streams: (including tidewaters and bays): Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons. |
| Willamette Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only, unless noted under Exceptions. | Catch-and-release: Open all year, except as noted under Exceptions. |
| Central Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons. |
| Northeast Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries. |
| Southeast Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Lakes and Reservoirs: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout season. |
| Snake River Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Open all year. |
| Columbia River Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Catch-and-release: Open all year, except as noted under Exceptions. |
| Marine Zone | Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Open all year. |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (eRegulations), read November 2, 2026.
Exceptions
Exception waters for Oregon sturgeon
| Water as printed | Zone | Rule as printed | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tillamook Bay (All tidewater upstream to Hwy 101 bridges on Kilchis, Miami, Wilson and Trask Rivers, and Burton Bridge on Tillamook River) | Northwest | Closed to sturgeon angling upstream from the Hwy 131 bridge. | p. 30 |
| Tillamook River (Above Burton Bridge) | Northwest | Closed to sturgeon angling. | p. 30 |
| Gilbert River (From the upstream end of the Gilbert River Fishing Pier located near the confluence of the Multnomah Channel upstream to Stur | Willamette | Closed for sturgeon the entire year including catch and release. | p. 45 |
| Sandy River (Mouth to ODFW markers at Salmon River confluence) | Willamette | Closed to sturgeon angling including catch-and-release. | p. 42 |
| Sturgeon Lake | Willamette | Closed for sturgeon. | p. 45 |
| Willamette River (Mainstem) (Mouth to Willamette Falls including Multnomah Channel) | Willamette | Catch-and-release for sturgeon. | p. 48 |
| Willamette River (Mainstem) (Mouth to Willamette Falls including Multnomah Channel) | Willamette | Sturgeon angling is prohibited from the Lake Oswego-Oak Grove RR bridge up to Willamette Falls May 1 – Aug 31. | p. 48 |
| Willamette River (Mainstem) (Willamette Falls to Hwy 20 bridge in Albany) | Willamette | Open for white sturgeon 1 per day and 2 per year, 38 inch minimum and 54 inch maximum fork length. | p. 48 |
| Willamette River (Mainstem) (Hwy 20 bridge to Hwy 99 bridge) | Willamette | Open for white sturgeon 1 per day and 2 per year, 38 inch minimum and 54 inch maximum fork length. | p. 48 |
| Willamette River (Mainstem) (Hwy 99 bridge at Harrisburg to McKenzie River mouth and tributaries) | Willamette | Open for white sturgeon 1 per day and 2 per year, 38 inch minimum and 54 inch maximum fork length. | p. 48 |
| Willamette River (Mainstem) (Mouth of McKenzie River to Coast Fork and tributaries not listed) | Willamette | Open for white sturgeon 1 per day and 2 per year, 38 inch minimum and 54 inch maximum fork length. | p. 48 |
| Columbia River (I-5 bridge to Bonneville Dam) | Columbia River | Sturgeon angling is prohibited May 1 – Aug 31 in the spawning sanctuary from Bonneville Dam downstream approx. 9 mi to a line crossing the Columbia River from Navigation Marker 82 on the Oregon shore westerly to a boundary marker on the. | p. 72 |
| Columbia River (Bonneville Dam to Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam) | Columbia River | Sturgeon RegulationsSturgeon seasons are determined on an annual basis, visit myodfw.com for current regulations. | p. 72 |
| Columbia River (Bonneville Dam to Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam) | Columbia River | When sturgeon retention is permitted, the following size limits apply:Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam: Sturgeon must have a fork length between 38 inches (minimum) and 54 inches (maximum). | p. 72 |
| Columbia River (Bonneville Dam to Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam) | Columbia River | The Dalles Dam to McNary Dam: Sturgeon must have a fork length between 43 inches (minimum) and 54 inches (maximum). | p. 72 |
| Columbia River (Bonneville Dam to Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam) | Columbia River | Catch-and-release for sturgeon is allowed after taking the daily or annual limit, or after the quota is reached. For regulation updates, visit the MyODFW website. | p. 72 |
| Columbia River (Bonneville Dam to Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam) | Columbia River | Angling for sturgeon is prohibited from May 1 through August 31 in the following spawning sanctuaries:A line projected from the east (upstream) dock at the Port of The Dalles boat ramp straight across to a marker on the Washington bank upst. | p. 72 |
| Youngs Bay Select Area (Clatsop Co.) (Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. Additional salmon and steelhead seasons | Columbia River | Closed to retention of white sturgeon. Additional opportunity is determined annually; visit the MyODFW website for more information. | p. 75 |
| Youngs Bay Select Area (Clatsop Co.) (Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. Additional salmon and steelhead seasons | Columbia River | Closed to retention of green sturgeon. | p. 75 |
| Youngs Bay Select Area (Clatsop Co.) (Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. Additional salmon and steelhead seasons | Columbia River | All oversize, undersize and unwanted legal size sturgeon must be released immediately unharmed into the water | p. 75 |
| Youngs Bay Select Area (Clatsop Co.) (Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. Additional salmon and steelhead seasons | Columbia River | Sturgeon over 54 inches in fork length cannot be removed totally or in part from the water. | p. 75 |
| Youngs Bay Select Area (Clatsop Co.) (Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. Additional salmon and steelhead seasons | Columbia River | Only one single-point, barbless hook may be used for sturgeon. | p. 75 |
| Youngs Bay Select Area (Clatsop Co.) (Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. Additional salmon and steelhead seasons | Columbia River | Sturgeon greater than 54-inches in fork length must remain in the water at all times. | p. 75 |
| Youngs Bay Select Area (Clatsop Co.) (Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. Additional salmon and steelhead seasons | Columbia River | Keep sturgeon in the water, regardless of size. | p. 75 |
Water exceptions as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (booklet PDF; printed page shown), read November 2, 2026. In-season changes from ODFW override them.
Where to look
Finding sturgeon in Oregon
Still water for sturgeon
- Sturgeon Lake3,163 acres
Streams mapped with sturgeon
- Willamette RiverMultnomah County
- Columbia RiverClatsop County
- Siuslaw RiverLane County
- Nestucca RiverTillamook County
- Sandy RiverMultnomah County
- Snake RiverUmatilla County
- Yaquina RiverLincoln County
- Tillamook RiverTillamook County
- Illinois RiverCurry County
- Coos RiverCoos County
- Gilbert RiverColumbia County
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
Photos
Camera views of fishing water around Sturgeon
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Answers
What Oregonians ask about sturgeon
How many sturgeon can go home per day in Oregon?
Using the Northwest Zone table: Catch-and-release only. Zones vary.
Where did the Oregon sturgeon record come from?
There is no Oregon record entry for it.
What Oregon lake or river is good for sturgeon?
It appears on 12 pages, among them Sturgeon Lake, Willamette River and Columbia River.
Do any Oregon waters set their own sturgeon rule?
8 waters print their own rule, such as Tillamook Bay.
When is sturgeon season open in Oregon?
The Northwest Zone row gives: Streams: (including tidewaters and bays): Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons. In-season changes are posted on MyODFW.
Does the plain angling license cover sturgeon or is a tag needed too?
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Who keeps the Oregon sturgeon record?
Record claims are handled by ODFW; see its record fish article for the steps.
How does ODFW name sturgeon?
Oregon tables call it Sturgeon.
Plan an Oregon trip for sturgeon
Every linked water spells out its launches and booklet exceptions.