OAR 635-011-0175: Special Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery

(1) During times and at registration stations to be specified by the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), a voucher for payment of bounty in an amount to be specified by PSMFC may be issued for each northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) taken by legal angling methods from the mouth of the Columbia River to the boat restricted zone below the Priest Rapids Dam; from the mouth of the Snake River to the boat restricted zone below Hells Canyon Dam; and from backwaters and sloughs, and up tributaries 400 feet from tributary mouths of the reaches listed above on the Columbia and Snake rivers. In addition, the following requirements shall be met to qualify for payment: (a) Anglers shall present a valid fishing license and picture identification upon request by any authorized program representative; (b) Each angler shall adhere to all applicable state fishing regulations for the area in which they fish; (c) Each angler shall register in person at one of the designated registration stations each day prior to fishing. Anglers may register during times when stations are unstaffed, by using the station’s self-registration box. Anglers may not register at multiple stations during the same time period; (d) Anglers shall comply with the directions of authorized program personnel related to the collection of sampling data and angler participation in the Sport Reward Fishery. Anglers shall provide true and accurate information to authorized program representatives regarding the taking, possession, delivery, transportation, sale, transfer, or any other use of fish caught while participating in the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program; (e) Fish must be returned to the same registration station where the angler registered. They must be returned on the same calendar day stamped on the angler’s registration form, before that station closes for that day, and they must have been caught subsequent to that day’s registration time. (f) All fish redeemed for reward payment must have been personally caught solely by the angler submitting them for reward payment. (g) To be eligible for a voucher, each northern pikeminnow must be nine inches or longer in total length and must be presented in fresh condition or alive. Fish that are or were frozen, or that are in otherwise poor condition, will not be accepted for payment. Authorized program personnel have the authority to determine whether or not northern pikeminnow submitted for payment meet these standards; (h) Mail in all reward vouchers within 30 days from the end of the year’s fishery. To obtain payment, vouchers must be received no later than November 15, 2007. Any issues preventing payment (missing information, voiding of voucher for program violations, etc.) must be resolved by November 15, 2007 or the voucher becomes null and void. (2) A bounty payment may be refused if in the judgment of authorized program personnel any of the above conditions have not been met. (3) Violation of any of the above rules may result in disqualification from the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program.