Peterson Creek Sportfishing Shut Down

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced today that Peterson Creek, north of Juneau, will be closed to sport fishing. Specific restrictions are as follows:

• Peterson Creek, including Peterson Lagoon, from the intertidal waters within a 200-yard radius of the creek mouth at saltwater to the falls approximately 1.5 miles upstream are closed to sport fishing for all species from April 15 – June 30, 2019 to protect spawning steelhead.

Snorkel survey expansions, based on years when concurrent weir counts were available, indicate that overall production of steelhead in Peterson Creek has declined in recent years. For the last 4 years (2015-2018), snorkel survey index counts conducted each spring have been below the 1997-2014 average of 28 fish (equal to an escapement of about 116 fish), when steelhead abundance in the creek appeared to be relatively stable. The 2018 snorkel survey count of 6 fish was the lowest on record since surveys began in 1997. A conservative approach is necessary to manage the Peterson Creek steelhead stock during this period of low escapements.

For more information please call the Division of Sport Fish Region 1 office at 465- 4270.