Minto Flats Pike Bag Limits Reduced

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Minto Flats Northern Pike Sport Fishing Bag Limit Reduced

(Fairbanks) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is reducing the bag and possession limit for northern pike in all lakes and flowing waters of the Minto Flats area (includes the lower portions of the Tolovana and Chatanika Drainages, and Minto Lakes – see map below). The bag and possession limit is decreased to two fish, only one of which may be 30 inches or greater in length. This northern pike bag and possession limit reduction will be in effect for the 2021 northern pike sport fishing season from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, June 1 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, October 14, 2021.

Between January 1 and April 15, 2021, the northern pike harvest exceeded 1,400 fish in the Chatanika River subsistence fishery between an ADF&G regulatory marker 1 mile upstream from the confluence of the Chatanika River and Goldstream Creek and a regulatory marker approximately 1 mile downstream of Murphy Dome Road. When subsistence harvests in this area exceed 750 northern pike, the Minto Flats Northern Pike Management Plan (5 AAC 74.044) requires a two fish northern pike sport fish bag and possession limit to be implemented for the remainder of that calendar year.

For alternative locations where sport anglers can target northern pike, please reference the Northern Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary or call the Fairbanks office of ADF&G (907) 459-7207 for ideas of where to go fishing.

For additional information regarding this announcement, please contact Klaus Wuttig, Regional Management Coordinator, (907) 459-7344.

Map showing the Minto Flats area (darker shaded area).

Minto Flats Northern Pike Sport Fishing Bag Limit Reduced