Sturgeon retention in the John Day pool of the Columbia River Gorge is closed for the year beginning Saturday.
Washington and Oregon officials adopted the closure on Wednesday because the catch guideline of 500 sturgeon is expected to be reached. The catch through June 23 was 432 sturgeon.
Half of the catch has occurred in June. A year ago, the John Day pool guideline filled on May 20.
Catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon continues in the John Day pool except for the 1.5 miles from McNary Dam to the Interstate 82 bridge through July 31. That stretch has a spring spawning sanctuary.