ADFG Announces Copper River Personal-Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Schedule

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

2023 Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Preseason Schedule

(Glennallen) – In accordance with the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan (5 AAC 77.591) the preliminary Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery schedule for 2023 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.

This preliminary schedule will be adjusted weekly based on actual sonar fish counts, as directed by the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan. 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 by emergency order approximately one week prior to the fishing period. By regulation, the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery is open 7 days a week, September 1–30.

The 2023 Copper River forecast is 1.695 million wild and hatchery sockeye salmon combined and 53,000 king salmon. The inriver goal, for the number of salmon passing the Miles Lake sonar, is 608,000 salmon.

Only Alaska residents are eligible to participate in personal use fisheries. A Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery permit and a resident Alaska sport fishing license are required. Both dip net permits and fishing licenses can be obtained online. A $15 fee is charged for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery permit. Revenue from the fee supports sanitation services and trail maintenance at the fishery.

All 2023 Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery participation and harvest reporting must be completed online through the ADF&G website. Online reporting is required whether you fish the permit or not. Permits returned by mail or hand-delivered will not be accepted.

The deadline to report your Chitina Subdistrict personal use fishing activity is October 15. Permit holders who fail to report will be denied a permit for the next calendar year.

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 Corporationat (907) 823-2223 or Ahtna, Inc. at (907) 822-3476.

Information regarding the fishery can be found at the ADF&G web site. 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.

In addition to being posted online, the most current fishing schedule is available on the Chitina Subdistrict fishery information line at 822-5224 (Glennallen). Please verify that the fishery is open prior to traveling by calling the information line or checking online. If you have any questions regarding the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery, please contact the ADF&G office in Glennallen at (907) 822-3309.