2017 Yukon River Fall Salmon Fishery News Release # 21 Subdistricts 5-B and 5-C Commercial Schedule

The estimated fall chum salmon passage at the mainstem sonar near Pilot Station through August 1 is 424,500 fish, which is above the historical median of 197,100 fish for that date. The first pulse of fall chum salmon entered the Yukon River on July 17 and is expected to be arriving near the Rapids around August 6 and Rampart on August 7.

Subdistricts 5-B and 5-C Commercial Schedule:

Effective 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 4, commercial fishing in Subdistricts 5-B and 5-C, will be open 24 hours per day, seven days per week until further notice. Fishermen may use fish wheels or gillnets with a mesh size of 6 inches or smaller.

• Period #1: 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 4 until 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 7.
• Effective12:00 p.m. Monday, August 7, each commercial fishing period will be 7-days and will end at 12:00 p.m. Mondays each week until further notice.

Commercial fishermen must confirm their market prior to commercial fishing. Processors, catcher sellers, or direct marketers should notify the department of their intent to operate by contacting the Fairbanks office at 459-7274.

The sale of Chinook salmon is prohibited. Commercial fishermen can release live Chinook salmon or use them for subsistence purposes. All fish harvested and not sold must be recorded on a fish ticket as “caught but not sold”.

Recorded fishery announcements and updates will be available 24 hours a day, toll free at 1-866-479-7387. If you have any questions regarding this report, please call the Fairbanks office at 459-7274.

This has been an announcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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