Yukon River Closing Sport Fishery For Chums, Kings

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

Yukon River Drainage Closed to Sport Fishing for King Salmon

(Fairbanks) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing the Yukon River drainage (excluding the Tanana River drainage) to sport fishing for king salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, May 1, 2022. All king salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The 2022 preseason forecast is for a drainagewide run size of 99,000–150,000 king salmon. A run of this size will result in reduced subsistence fishing opportunity and potentially result in a failure to achieve treaty obligations for Canadian-origin king salmon. The 2021 king salmon run preseason forecast was larger, and drainagewide escapement goals were not met despite harvest restrictions or closures in all Yukon River fisheries. Therefore, a preseason closure of sport fishing for king salmon in the Yukon River drainage is warranted. If inseason stock assessment information indicates that king salmon escapement goals and subsistence needs in the Yukon River drainage will be met, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed commensurate with run strength.

Yukon River Drainage Closed to Sport Fishing for Chum Salmon

(Fairbanks) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing the Yukon River drainage (excluding the Tanana River drainage) to sport fishing for chum salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, May 1, 2022. All chum salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The 2022 preseason forecast is for a drainagewide run size of 162,000–542,000 chum salmon with a point estimate of 330,000 fish. The 2022 run is anticipated to be below the lower bound of the inriver escapement goal of 500,000–1,200,000. Based on the Yukon River Summer Chum Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 05.362), when the projected run size of summer chum salmon is 650,000 fish or less, the commercial, personal use, and sport fish directed summer chum fisheries will be closed. If inseason stock assessment information indicates that chum salmon escapement goals and subsistence needs in the Yukon River drainage will be met, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed commensurate with run strength.

For additional information contact Lisa Stuby, Yukon Area Management Biologist, 907-459-7202.