Roundtail chub, once close to threatened, soon to be a Utah sportfish

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FARMINGTON — Roundtail chub, an endemic species to the Colorado River Basin, was as soon as nearing safety from the Endangered Species Act when Utah wildlife biologists started efforts to guard the species in 2006.

Now, practically 20 years later, the species is about to be a sportfish within the state.

The Utah Wildlife Board on Thursday permitted a plan to incorporate roundtail chub as a sportfish that may be caught in somewhat greater than a half-dozen places inside the state starting at the beginning of 2023.

• Colorado River: Roundtail chub might be caught from the Colorado state line, to the confluence of the Soiled Satan River. The each day fish restrict is ready at two roundtail chub.
• Delores River: Roundtail chub might be caught from the Colorado state line downriver to the confluence of the Colorado River. The each day fish restrict is ready at two roundtail chub.
• Escalante River: Roundtail chub might be caught from the confluence of Pine Creek downriver to the confluence of Lake Powell. All roundtail chub have to be instantly launched after being caught, and solely synthetic flies and lures can be utilized.
• Inexperienced River: Roundtail chub might be caught from the Colorado state line downriver to Sand Wash boat launch. All roundtail chub have to be instantly launched on this part. Roundtail chub may also be caught from the Sand Wash boat launch downriver to the confluence of the Colorado River. The each day fish restrict is ready at two roundtail chub on this part.
• McElmo Creek: Roundtail chub might be caught from the Colorado state line downriver to the confluence of the San Juan River. All roundtail chub have to be instantly launched after being caught, and solely synthetic flies and lures can be utilized.
• San Rafael River: Roundtail chub might be caught wherever within the river. The each day fish restrict is ready at two roundtail chub.
• White River: Roundtail chub might be caught from the Colorado state line downriver to the tribal land boundary. The each day fish restrict is ready at two roundtail chub.

The method started final yr and obtained “plenty of help,” Randy Oplinger, the sportfish coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Sources, mentioned in a press release Friday. The company formally proposed the change in August, stating that it mirrors what different states have accomplished and supply Utah angler a “distinctive alternative” for a brand new fish species to catch.

“These are a enjoyable species to fish for as a result of they take all kinds of flies, lures and baits,” Oplinger mentioned, noting that because the fish species are discovered within the Colorado and Inexperienced rivers and the rivers’ tributaries, there possible will not be a ton of “fishing strain” on the species.

“These rivers do not obtain plenty of fishing strain, so classifying roundtail chub as a sportfish species offers some new fishing alternatives on some waters that aren’t closely visited,” he added. “Whereas roundtail chub are thought of a species of biggest conservation want, they’re a conservation success story and their populations in Utah are doing nicely sufficient now to face up to some fishing strain.”

The measure was permitted with little debate in the course of the Utah Wildlife Board’s assembly Thursday, as have been different measures proposed in August. The Inexperienced River Golf Course Pond was faraway from the group fishing pond listing due to the low survival charges of the stocked fish within the pond, whereas the six-month seasonal closure each January to early July at Brown Duck Basin within the Uinta Mountains was eliminated to “present further angler alternatives,” in line with the Utah Division of Wildlife Sources.

The board additionally permitted a measure to take away the seasonal closure for a few of the Strawberry Reservoir tributaries, eliminating a earlier ban from Sept. 1 to early October for all tributaries however Trout Creek. As well as, it adjusted the each day fishing restrict at many different places within the state.

All of these modifications will even start at the beginning of subsequent yr and will probably be included within the subsequent Utah Fishing Guidebook.

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