Kodiak’s Saltery River Closing For Sockeye Fishing
The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:
Saltery River Closed to Sport Fishing for Sockeye Salmon
(Kodiak) – In favor of protecting returning sockeye salmon and ensuring fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is closing sport fishing for sockeye salmon in the Saltery River drainage. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 1 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020.
Through July 29, 2020, only 6,275 sockeye salmon have passed the Saltery Creek weir, which is the lowest count on record. The escapement goal for sockeye salmon into the Saltery River drainage is 15,000 to 30,000 fish and typically, about 75% of the run has occurred by this date and additional restrictions are necessary to provide more fish towards the escapement goal.
“The Saltery sockeye salmon fishery is one of Kodiak’s most popular sport fisheries and the largest sport fishery on the island for harvest for a single river,” stated Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum. “An apparently weak run and low water conditions has resulted in low escapement into Saltery Lake. It is unlikely at this point that the escapement goal will be achieved in the near future.”
For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum at (907) 486-1880.