Sockeye Salmon Limits Increasing On Two Alaska River Drainages

(Dillingham) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is increasing the limits of sockeye salmon to ten fish per day and ten fish in possession in all waters of the Wood River drainage effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 5 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019. The bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five fish. These limits are in combination with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.

The escapement of sockeye salmon in the Wood River is projected to exceed the escapement goal of 700,000 – 1.8 million fish. Through July 2, approximately 937,644 sockeye salmon have been counted at the Wood River tower. Therefore, it is warranted to increase the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon in the Wood River sport fishery.

“This year’s sockeye run is ahead on the projection curve,” stated Assistant Area Management Biologist Lee Borden. “With the upper end of the escapement goal of 1.8 million projected to be exceeded, we are providing anglers an opportunity to harvest additional fish from the Wood River drainage.”

(Dillingham) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is increasing the limits of sockeye salmon to ten fish per day and ten fish in possession in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage, excluding the Wood River drainage, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 5 through 11:59 p.m., December 31, 2019. The bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five fish. These limits are in combination with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.

The escapement of sockeye salmon in the Nushagak River is projected to exceed the escapement goal of 370,000 – 900,000 fish. Through July 2, 2019, approximately 405,083 sockeye salmon have been counted at the Portage Creek sonar. Therefore, it is warranted to increase the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon in the Nushagak-Mulchatna River sport fishery.

“This year’s sockeye salmon run is ahead on the projection curve,” stated Assistant Area Management Biologist Lee Borden. “With the upper end of the escapement goal of 900,000 projected to be exceeded, we are providing anglers an opportunity to harvest additional fish in the sport fishery.”