Wood River Drainage Sockeye Salmon Limits Increased
The following press releases are courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:
(Dillingham) – In an effort to harvest surplus sockeye salmon returning to the Wood River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation liberalization by increasing limits of sockeye salmon to 10 fish per day and 10 fish in possession for all waters of the Wood River drainage. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 4 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 31, 2018. However, the bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at 5 fish per day and 5 in possession. These limits are in combination with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.
The escapement of sockeye salmon on the Wood River has exceeded the escapement goal of 700,000 to 1.8 million fish. As of July 2, 2018, over 2.4 million sockeye salmon have been counted at the Wood River tower.
“Over 1.1 million sockeye salmon entered the Wood River on Monday. That more than doubles the previous single day record, ” stated Area Management Biologist Jason Dye. “Therefore, it is warranted to increase the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon in the Wood River sport fishery.”
The Glennallen Subdistrict subsistence fishery will open at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, July 6 for 48 hours and then immediately reopen to 7-day/week fishing at 12:01 p.m. Sunday, July 8 for the remainder of the season unless superseded by a subsequent emergency order.
Copper River sockeye salmon have a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 360,000 – 750,000 fish (5AAC 24.360). From June 24 through July 1, salmon passage at the Miles Lake sonar has been more than double the expected passage and the projected sockeye salmon spawning escapement is now expected to exceed 360,000 wild sockeye salmon. Copper River sockeye salmon migratory timing and the previous five-year average harvest and participation rates indicate sufficient numbers of salmon available to justify reopening the Glennallen Subdistrict subsistence fishery to 7-day/week beginning noon Sunday, July 8.
Information regarding the fishery can be found at the ADF&G web site: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/
Any changes on the status of this fishery will be announced on the Chitina Fishery information line at 822-5224 (Glennallen), 459-7382 (Fairbanks), and 267-2511 (Anchorage). Please contact an information phone line prior to planning your trip to Chitina to ensure that the fishery will be open when you arrive. If you have any questions regarding the Glennallen Subdistrict subsistence fishery, please contact the ADF&G office in Glennallen at (907) 822-3309.
Alaska Salmon 2011: Not Too Shabby
Prime Time For Face Time At Sportsmen’s Shows
EPA: Potential ‘Adverse Impacts’ On Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery With Pebble Mine; Comment Period On Draft Study Open Into July
About Author
