2021 Yukon River Salmon Summer Fishery Announcement #4 District 4 and Koyukuk River Subsistence Fishing Schedule

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

The 2021 Chinook salmon run size is forecasted to be smaller than the 2020 run and may not be strong enough to meet escapement objectives. When run forecasts are this weak, regulations require that salmon fishing be closed on the first pulse. In accordance with the preseason management strategy to take a conservative approach this season, subsistence fishing will be closed during the trickle and first pulse of the Chinook salmon run. This is intended to protect Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected. The first Chinook salmon have been caught in the lower river test fisheries, and salmon fishing closures began on the Coastal District and District 1 on June 2. Closures in each subsequent district are based on average swim speeds.

06/04/2021
Last edited 01/25/2022
Contact Information

Deena Jallen, Area Management Biologist

(907) 949-1320

Toll free fishing schedule and counts: (866) 479-7387

In Fairbanks fishing schedule hotline: 459-7387

Due to the conservation concern for Chinook salmon, 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets will be restricted to a maximum length of 60-feet effective when salmon fishing closures begin. Fishermen are reminded to set this gear in areas where non-salmon species are abundant to avoid incidentally harvesting Chinook salmon. While any salmon caught in 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets may be kept, if it appears salmon are being targeted with this gear, it could be further restricted.

Subsistence Management Actions

Subdistrict 4-A Lower (from ¾ of a mile downstream from Old Paradise Village upstream to Stink Creek, including Grayling and Anvik):

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

Effective 8 p.m., Thursday, June 10, salmon fishing is closed. Fish wheels and gillnets larger than 4-inch mesh are not allowed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60 feet or shorter length.

Subdistrict 4-A Upper (from Stink Creek upstream to the tip of Cone Point, including Kaltag, Nulato, and Koyukuk):

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

Effective 8 p.m., Sunday, June 13, salmon fishing is closed. Fish wheels and gillnets larger than 4-inch mesh are not allowed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60 feet or shorter length.

Koyukuk River (including Huslia, Hughes, Allakaket, Alatna, and Bettles):

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

Effective 8 p.m., Monday, June 14, salmon fishing is closed. Fish wheels and gillnets larger than 4-inch mesh are not allowed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60 feet or shorter length.

As a reminder, due to the regulation change in 2019, hook and line is legal subsistence gear in the Nulato River and in the Yukon River drainage downstream from the Nulato River, but this gear may not be used above the Nulato river for subsistence fishing. During subsistence salmon fishing closures, fishermen may target non- salmon with gears such as hook and line and dip nets. However, all chum salmon and Chinook salmon must be released alive from these gears.

The Emmonak office will be open to the public Mondays to Fridays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays. ADF&G Emmonak office: (907) 949-1320.

This is an announcement by the ADF&G in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Emmonak USFWS office is not open. To reach the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Yukon River Subsistence Fishery Manager call 351-3029.

Announcements will be shared on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YukonRiverFishingADFG

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