2017 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release # 16 Districts 1-3 Commercial and Subsistence Fishing Schedule

Management Actions:

Subsistence fishing with gillnets is now open. Dip nets and beach seines may no longer be used for subsistence.

District 1 (including Black River and North Coastal District) Subsistence:

Subsistence fishing is currently open from 4 a.m. until 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (one 10-hr period each day) with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

Effective 4 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, subsistence fishing is open from 4 a.m. until 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (one 10-hr period each day) with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

District 1 (including Black River) Commercial:

As a reminder, commercial fishing for summer chum salmon remains on schedule with selective gear only, from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Mondays thru Saturdays (one 12-hour period each day except Sunday) until further notice. All Chinook salmon must be released alive from commercial dip nets and beach seines and recorded on a fish ticket. Commercial openings with gillnets for summer chum salmon will be considered based on Chinook salmon run strength. Fishermen should stand by for further announcements.

District 2 Subsistence:

Subsistence fishing is currently open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (one 10-hour period each day) with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

Effective 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, Subsistence fishing is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (one 10-hr period each day) with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

District 2 Commercial:

Commercial fishing will begin in District 2 to target summer chum salmon with dip nets and beach seines. Because there is limiting buyer capacity in District 2 above Mountain Village this season, fishermen must ensure they have a buyer before fishing. Commercial fishing will be open with selective gear only for two 6-hour periods:

• From 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 21 until 3 a.m. Thursday, June 22
• From 9 p.m. Friday, June 23 until 3 a.m. Saturday, June 24

More periods may be announced based on buyer capacity. All Chinook salmon must be released alive from commercial dip nets and beach seines and recorded on a fish ticket.

District 3:

Subsistence salmon fishing is currently open until 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 20 with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

Effective noon Tuesday, June 20, subsistence fishing will open for one 24-hour period with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels from noon Tuesday June 20, until noon Wednesday, June 21.

Effective 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, subsistence fishing will be open on the regulatory schedule of two 36-hour periods per week from 8 p.m. Wednesdays to 8 a.m. Fridays, and from 8 p.m. Sundays to 8 a.m. Tuesdays with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

Innoko River:

Subsistence fishing is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

General Reminder: During fishing closures, fishermen may use gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh of 60 feet or shorter length to target non salmon species. Chinook salmon harvested in 4-inch or smaller gillnets may be kept.

Fishing schedules, test fish catches and sonar counts are available 24 hours a day at (866) 479-7387 (toll free);
in Fairbanks, call (907) 459-7387.

If you have any questions, please call ADF&G in Emmonak at 949-1320, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Emmonak at 949-1798.

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