Nonresidents Not Allowed To Retain Juneau/Ketchikan King Salmon

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

Juneau – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today, nonresident anglers may not retain king salmon from August 1 through September 15 in Southeast Alaska and Yakutat marine waters, except in designated sport fish terminal hatchery areas in the vicinity of Juneau and Ketchikan. Resident king salmon regulations remain unchanged. This period of nonresident king salmon nonretention will be effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, August 1, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 15, 2019.

The Southeast Alaska king salmon sport fishery is managed under the directives of the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 47.055). This plan prescribes management measures based upon the Southeast Alaska Winter Troll catch per unit effort (CPUE). The Southeast Alaska Winter Troll CPUE for the 2019 season is 3.38 which equates to 25,844 king salmon allocated to the sport fishery. To address the implementation of the new treaty agreement which includes provisions to reduce the Alaska harvest ceiling the following year if the Alaska harvest ceiling is exceeded, the sport fishery is being managed conservatively with a harvest target of 25,300 treaty king salmon in 2019. As directed by the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan, if restrictions are necessary to keep the sport fishery within its harvest allocation, nonresident anglers will be restricted first, and the department shall only restrict resident anglers if nonresident angler restrictions are insufficient to remain within the sport harvest allocation. Based on king salmon harvest estimates to date and the projected harvest for the remainder of the season, a period of king salmon nonretention for nonresident anglers is necessary to ensure that the sport fishery remains within its harvest allocation.

King salmon regulations in the Juneau vicinity designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest areas remain unchanged for both resident and nonresident anglers (see attached map).

For further information regarding sport fisheries in Southeast Alaska, contact the nearest ADF&G office or visit: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.eonr

Nonresident King Salmon Retention Prohibited August 1 Through September 15

Saltery River Sockeye Salmon Limits Decreased

(Kodiak) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is reducing the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to two per day and two in possession in the Saltery River drainage. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 24 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019.

Through the weekend, 7,058 sockeye salmon have passed the Saltery Creek weir, which is the lowest count on record for this date. The escapement goal for sockeye salmon into the Saltery River drainage is 15,000 to 30,000 fish. Typically, about 41% of the run has occurred by this date and restrictions are necessary to achieve the escapement goal.

“The Saltery sockeye salmon fishery is one of Kodiak’s most popular sport fisheries,” stated Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum. “With the warm temperatures and low water conditions we’re seeing the fish just aren’t moving into the river. Even considering late run timing we need to slow down harvest and get more sockeye to the lake for escapement.”

For additional information, please contact the Division of Sport Fish Kodiak Office at (907) 486-1880.