ADFG Ends Freshwater Sportfishing Log Book Requirements

The following press releases are courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Freshwater Sport Fishing Guide Logbooks No Longer Required

(Juneau) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is ending the freshwater sport fishing guide logbook program effective May 26, 2019. Sport fishing guide businesses will no longer need to obtain and complete freshwater logbooks, and freshwater sport fishing guides will no longer be required to complete a logbook sheet at the conclusion of each fishing trip. However, this will not eliminate the guide/business registration or vessel registration requirement for freshwater guides and businesses. In order to provide freshwater sport fishing services and freshwater sport fishing guide services, a business and guide must be registered with ADF&G and the vessels used to provide these services must be registered and have the annual sticker in place.

This action was a result of ADF&G’s budget reduction process. Previously, the freshwater logbook program was funded by an industry license fee, that enabled it to be a self-supporting program. Until legislation is adopted that re-implements a freshwater guide/business license fee, there will likely be no freshwater logbook program. The saltwater logbook program will remain in place since ADF&G has agreed to provide that data for Southeast Alaska king salmon treaty obligations and federal halibut management actions.

For additional information, please contact Division of Sport Fish Deputy Director Tom Taube at (907) 465-6184.

Yentna Subsistence Fishery Restricted

(Palmer) – In favor of protecting returning king salmon and ensuring fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is restricting the Upper Yentna subsistence fishery to Wednesdays and Fridays each week during the month of June, effective 4:00 a.m. Monday, June 3 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 30, 2019. This fishery is located in the mainstem of the Yentna River from Martin Creek upstream to the confluence with the Skwentna River.

This fishery restriction follows two sport fishing emergency orders issued on January 7, 2019, closing the Susitnaand Little Susitna rivers to king salmon fishing. Those sport fisheries were closed in anticipation of a run size less than experienced in 2017 and 2018, when nearly all escapement goals were missed. In addition, the Northern District commercial king salmon fishery will also be closed. Therefore, restricting the Upper Yenta subsistence fishery to two periods per week, helps to share the burden of conservation across all user groups while recognizing a subsistence priority.

“Preseason forecasts for the Cook Inlet king salmon fishery suggests another weak return of king salmon this season. Preseason conservation measures are being taken by all user groups and across the state,” stated Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey. “The Cook Inlet king salmon is just one fishery ADF&G is taking preseason measures by restricting or closing the fisheries, in order to, ensure the greatest number of wild king salmon returning to the rivers to spawn.”

2019 Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Preseason Schedule

In accordance with the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan (5 AAC 77.591) the preliminary 2019 schedule for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery is listed in the table below. The schedule is based on projected daily sonar counts at the Miles Lake sonar and is designed to distribute the harvest throughout the run based on actual salmon abundance.

2019 Copper River Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon Fishery Preseason Schedule
Dates Fishing period
hours
Friday, June 7, 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, June 9, 11:59 p.m. 54
Monday, June 10, 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, June 16, 11:59 p.m. 168
Monday, June 17, 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, June 23, 11:59 p.m. 168
Monday, June 24, 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, June 30, 11:59 p.m. 168
Wednesday, July 3, 6:00 a.m. through Sunday, July 7, 11:59 p.m. 114
Monday, July 8, 12:01 a.m. through Monday, July 8, 11:59 p.m. 24
Tuesday, July 9, 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, July 14, 11:59 p.m. 126
Friday, July 19, 6:00 a.m. through Sunday, July 21, 11:59 p.m. 66
Friday, July 26, 12:01 p.m. through Sunday, July 28, 11:59 p.m. 60
Friday, August 2, 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, August 4, 11:59 p.m. 54
Monday, August 5, 12:01 a.m. through Monday, August 5, 11:59 p.m. 24
Tuesday, August 6, 6:00 a.m. through Sunday, August 11, 11:59 p.m. 138
Monday, August 12, 12:01 a.m. through Monday, August 12, 11:59 p.m. 24
Wednesday, August 14, 12:01 p.m. through Sunday, August 18, 11:59 p.m. 108
Monday, August 19, 12:01 a.m. through Saturday, August 31, 11:59 p.m. Continuous

Based on sonar counts, actual fishing times will be established through emergency order each week as per the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan. The department may deviate from this plan, as it did in 2018, if passage by the Miles Lake sonar appears insufficient to meet wild stock spawning escapement. Travel time for salmon between the Miles Lake sonar and the Chitina Subdistrict is approximately two to three weeks; as a result, changes to the preliminary schedule will be announced approximately one week prior to the fishing period. After August 31, the fishery will remain open, by regulation, through September 30.

The 2019 Copper River forecast is 1.51 million wild and enhanced sockeye salmon and 55,000 king salmon http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1008960294.pdf. The inriver goal, for passage by the Miles Lake sonar, is 618,000–1.01 million salmon http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1026468392.pdf. This goal ensures sufficient passage for spawning escapement, subsistence, personal use and sport fishing needs, and hatchery brood stock.

All residents of Alaska qualify to participate in this personal use fishery. A Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit and a resident Alaska sport fishing license are required. Both dip net permits and fishing licenses can be obtained online at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/Store/. A $15 fee is charged for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon fishery permit. Revenue from the fee supports the sanitation services at the fishery and trail maintenance from O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek.
The department urges dipnetters to respect the rights of private landowners in the area and familiarize themselves with the land ownership in the area before fishing. For information on access across private lands contact Chitina Native Corporation at (907) 823-2223 (https://chitinanative.com/obrien-creek-permit-program) or Ahtna, Inc at (907) 822-3476 (https://www.ahtna-inc.com/lands/).

Information regarding the fishery can be found at the ADF&G web site: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaInteriorChitina.main. This site provides information regarding the Upper Copper River fisheries including: fishery descriptions and summaries, maps of the subdistricts, a listing of vendors that carry the permits, and links to the sonar numbers and fishing schedule emergency orders.

The current fishing schedule will be announced on the Chitina Fishery information line at 822-5224 (Glennallen), 459-7382 (Fairbanks), and 267-2511 (Anchorage). Please contact an information phone line prior to planning your trip to Chitina to ensure that the fishery will be open when you arrive. If you have any questions regarding the Chitina Subdistrict personal use fishery, please contact the ADF&G office in Glennallen at (907) 822-3309.