Sturgeon Poaching Reward Doubled

The poaching of two mature sturgeons in recent weeks along the Snake River has raised the ire of The Western Whitewater Association. "We were outraged," Member Tim Palmer said. "We as members have enjoyed that resource, caught these fish, released these fish for generations&and it is a travesty." The group is channeling its outrage into action. - contributing $1000 - $500 for each fish - to Idaho Fish and Game's reward fund meaning $2000 is now available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Besides contributing with their wallets, the association's members will also be on the lookout for suspicious activity. "We have 600 members of our group that are out there and we are aware&and we are going to be very diligent in paying attention to what is going on now," Member Ron Garrett said. A sturgeon head believed to have come from a fish between 40 and 60 years old was found earlier this month dumped just off Interstate 84 east of Mountain Home. Last month, witnesses reported seeing two men catch a nine-foot long sturgeon below Swan Falls Dam, load it into an older Ford pickup and drive off with it. Fish and Game officials do not know if the incidents are connected but they are concerned about possible motives. "Some people are poaching for meat, some people are poaching for their ego," Resident Fisheries Coordinator Fred Partridge said. "But there's additional value in caviar and there's some concern there could be some black market harvesting of sturgeon, looking for caviar." Anyone with information is urged to call the poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999.