I did some checking to find out what the agenda was for the proposed St Croix River sturgeon regulation changes. This is what I could find out:
Wisconsin is making some changes to their sturgeon season on inland waters. The minimum harvest size will now be 60 inches and the season will be shortened from 6 to 4 weeks. The Wisconsin and Minnesota DNRs are concerned that if the 6 week St. Croix sturgeon season is still open that a lot of “meat” fisherman would be driving to the St Croix once the Wisconsin inland sturgeon season has closed.
The proposed Minnesota sturgeon season regulation changes to be discussed at the October 22nd meeting will be a Minnesota regulation change to mirror the Wisconsin change. This will at least have both states with identical regulations and would lessen the impact of increased pressure on the St Croix when the Wisconsin inland sturgeon season closes. The thinking is that the 60” minimum size will keep the harvest of quality fish down and that Wisconsin is going ahead with their shortened inland season from 6 weeks to 4 weeks regardless of the St Croix regulations and we need to do the same with the St Croix to keep the sturgeon targeting pressure down.
Should be an interesting meeting on October 22nd. I will go for the information portion but I hate the shouting and arguing part so I will probably leave early. This is probably a done deal already and it sounds like Minnesota is doing its best to preserve the herd.