Yukon River Drainage Shutting Down To Chum Fishing

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Yukon River Drainage Chum Salmon Sport Fishery Closed

(Fairbanks) – To protect chum salmon during periods of low abundance, 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. Wednesday, July 9 through Wednesday, December 31, 2025. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for chum salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. All chum salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. As a reminder, an earlier management action closing sport fishing for king salmon and prohibiting the use of bait in all Yukon River tributaries (i.e. flowing waters) remains in effect through September 30, 2025.

The number of summer chum salmon counted by the Pilot Station sonar is well-below the historical median and is projected to fall below the lower bound of the escapement goal of 500,000. As of July 6, an estimated 262,739 summer chum salmon were counted past the Pilot Station sonar, compared to the historical median of 1,341,881. In accordance with the Yukon River Summer Chum Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 05.362), when the projected run size of summer chum salmon is 500,000 fish or less, the commercial, personal use, and sport fish directed chum fisheries will be closed. Also, the pre-season forecast for fall chum salmon, which enter the Yukon River in late July, is also poor and is not expected to meet spawning escapement goals. If inseason stock assessment information indicates that chum salmon spawning 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 at 907-459-7202 or lisa.stuby@alaska.gov.