2018 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release # 11 Summer Update # 2, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

Assessment Projects

Lower Yukon Test Fishery (LYTF)/ ADF&G and YDFDA

The combined cumulative Chinook salmon CPUE for the 8.5-inch set gillnet at the Big Eddy and Middle Mouth sites, as of June 10, is 0.40, which is below the historical average of 3.34. However, the first day of operation for the 8.5-inch set gillnet at the Big Eddy site was delayed over a week and didn’t become operational until June 9 due to high water and large amounts of woody debris; these river conditions continue to affect catches. The cumulative Chinook salmon CPUE in the 8.25-inch drift gillnet at the Big Eddy site, as of June 10, is 29.78, which is below the historical average of 51.48. As of June 10, the combined cumulative summer chum salmon CPUE for the 5.5-inch drift gillnet at the Big Eddy and Middle Mouth sites is 2,114.85, which is well above the historical median of 37.89 for this date.

Operations at the LYTF have been altered from previous years, so caution should be taken when comparing current catch rates to historical catch rates. Any Chinook salmon healthy enough will be released alive from the test nets. Injured salmon and mortalities will be distributed to village elders by the Tribal Councils. Fewer set net sites are being fished than in the past to reduce Chinook salmon mortality.

Sonar Project near Pilot Station/ ADF&G

The sonar project near Pilot Station began operations on June 1. The project is operating well and is not currently experiencing any issues with debris or equipment malfunction. Chinook salmon passage, as of June 10, is estimated to be 8,925 fish which is below the historical cumulative average of 11,229 Chinook salmon for this date. Summer chum salmon passage, as of June 10, is estimated to be 33,614 fish which is above the historical cumulative median of 16,793 fish for this date. 

Management Strategy

A precautionary management approach is being taken early in the season. As early salmon move up river, fishing time may be limited to half of the regulatory fishing schedule and fishermen may use gillnets of 7.5 inches or smaller mesh. This action is taken in order to limit the harvest of early Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected. The 2018 summer chum salmon run is expected to be above average.

As a reminder to fishermen, dip nets are not a legal subsistence gear type and are not currently allowed during subsistence gillnet openings. During salmon fishing closures, fishermen may use gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh. Fishermen may retain any Chinook salmon harvested in gillnets and fish wheels.

Subsistence Fishing:

South Coastal District (from the Naskonat Peninsula north to 62 degrees North latitude including the marine waters near Hooper Bay and Scammon Bay):

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

This year the Northern portion of the Coastal District will be managed the same as District 1. This combined area includes District 1, the Black River, and all coastal waters from 62 degrees North latitude north to Point Romanof and up to 3 nautical miles offshore from any grassland.

District 1 (including the North Coastal District, the Black River, and the communities of Nunam Iqua, Alakanuk, Emmonak, and Kotlik):

Subsistence fishing with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets is on a reduced regulatory schedule consisting of two 18-hour periods per week from:

• 2 p.m. Tuesdays to 8 a.m. Wednesdays
• 2 p.m. Fridays to 8 a.m. Saturdays

Subsistence fishing is closed between the 18-hour fishing periods.

District 2 (including the communities of Mountain Village, Pitkas Point, Saint Mary’s, Pilot Station, and Marshall):

Subsistence fishing is currently open with 7.5 inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

Subsistence salmon fishing will close at 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, and reopen 2 p.m. Thursday, June 14 with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets on a reduced regulatory schedule consisting of two 18-hour periods per week from:

• 2 p.m. Thursdays to 8 a.m. Fridays
• 2 p.m. Mondays to 8 a.m. Tuesdays

Subsistence fishing is closed between the 18-hour fishing periods.

District 3 (including the communities of Russian Mission and Holy Cross):

Subsistence fishing is currently open with 7.5 inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

Subsistence salmon fishing will close at 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, and reopen 2 p.m. Thursday, June 14 with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets on a reduced regulatory schedule consisting of two 18-hour periods per week from:

• 2 p.m. Thursdays to 8 a.m. Fridays
• 2 p.m. Mondays to 8 a.m. Tuesdays

Subsistence fishing is closed between the 18-hour fishing periods.

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.

Subdistrict 4-A (including the communities of Anvik, Grayling, Kaltag, Nulato, and Koyukuk):

Drift gillnets may be used for salmon in Subdistrict 4-A. Subsistence fishing is currently open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

Fishing will close 6 p.m. Thursday, June 14. Subsistence fishing will reopen 6 p.m. Sunday, June 17, with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets on a reduced regulatory schedule consisting of two 24-hour periods per week from:

• 6 p.m. Sundays to 6 p.m. Mondays
• 6 p.m. Wednesdays to 6 p.m. Thursdays

Subsistence fishing is closed between the 24-hour fishing periods.

Koyukuk River:

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

Subdistricts 4-B and 4-C

Drift gillnets may be used for salmon in all waters of Subdistrict 4-B and 4-C. Subsistence fishing is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

District 5 (from the western edge of the mouth of Illinois Creek to the U.S./Canada border, including the communities of Tanana, Rampart, Stevens Village, Beaver, Fort Yukon, Venetie, Chalkyitsik, Circle, and Eagle):

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

A fishing permit is required to fish for all species in the following locations: the portion of Subdistrict 5-C from the western most tip of Garnet Island upstream to the mouth of Dall River, between the western tip of Garnet Island and the Dall River (Dalton Highway bridge area) and from the upstream mouth of 22 Mile Slough to the U.S./Canada border. Subsistence fishermen outside of the permit area are encouraged to fill out their subsistence salmon catch calendars. Calendars and subsistence fishing permits are available from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks.

Subdistricts 6-A and 6-B (from the mouth of the Tanana River upstream to the regulatory marker at the mouth of the Wood River, which includes the communities of Manley, Minto, and Nenana):  

Subsistence fishing is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh size gillnets and fish wheels until early salmon reach these subdistricts.

A fishing permit is required to fish for all species in the Tanana River drainage. Subsistence salmon fishermen fishing in the upper portion of Subdistrict 6-B, from three miles upstream of the mouth of Totchaket Slough to Wood River, are required to report their harvest catches to the department by 4:30 PM Thursday each week by contacting the department at (907) 459-7388. When you call, please provide your name, permit number, fishing location, and daily catch by species for that week.

Kantishna River:

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

Subdistricts 6-C (Personal use fishery from the regulatory marker at the mouth of the Wood River upstream to the downstream mouth of the Salcha River, which includes the communities of Fairbanks, North Pole, and Salcha):

Personal use fishing is open on the regulatory fishing schedule of two 42-hour periods per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels:

• 6 p.m. Mondays to noon Wednesdays
• 6 p.m. Fridays to noon Sundays

Old Minto Area:

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

Upper Tanana Area (the Tanana River from the confluence with the mouth of Volkmar River on the north bank and the mouth of the Johnson River on the south bank upstream to the Tanana River headwaters):

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

Commercial Fishing:

The summer chum salmon commercial fishery has opened in Districts 1 and 2 with dip nets and beach seines. All Chinook salmon must be released alive immediately and recorded on a fish ticket. Fishermen must confirm they have a buyer prior to fishing.

District 1 (including Black River) Commercial:

The following fishing periods with dip nets and beach seines have been announced:

A 12-hour period from 2 p.m. Monday, June 11, to 2 a.m. Tuesday, June 12

A 12-hour period from noon to midnight Wednesday, June 13

A 24-hour period from noon Thursday, June 14 until noon Friday, June 15

District 2 Commercial:

Two fishing periods with dip nets and beach seines have been announced:

A 12-hour period from 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, to 2 a.m. Wednesday, June 13

A 12-hour period from 2 p.m. Wednesday June 13, to 2 a.m. Thursday, June 14

News releases, test fish catches, and sonar counts are also available on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/YukonRiverFishingADFG

View Full News Release

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