2018 Yukon River Summer Salmon Fishery News Release # 19 - Summer Update # 3, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

Water levels are still high in the lower river and large amounts of woody debris are present periodically. As of June 17, the early Chinook salmon should be near Galena. Small numbers of Chinook may be as far upriver as Stevens Village and early summer chum salmon may be near Ruby. The strength and duration of Chinook and summer chum salmon groups and pulses are still being assessed at the Pilot Station sonar.

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 17, is 1.78, which is below the historical average of 8.96. However, operations may not be comparable to previous years because fishing duration and net locations have been affected due to high water and large amounts of woody debris since project start-up. However, river conditions have recently improved and catches for both Chinook and summer chum salmon have increased considerably since June 17.

The cumulative Chinook salmon CPUE in the 8.25-inch drift gillnet at the Big Eddy site, as of June 17, is 162.81, which is above the historical average of 154.93. As of June 17, the combined cumulative summer chum salmon CPUE for the 5.5-inch drift gillnet at the Big Eddy and Middle Mouth sites is 4,794.05, which is well above the historical median of 1,016.09 for this date.

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 experiencing any issues with debris or equipment malfunction. Chinook salmon passage, as of June 17, is estimated to be 32,639 fish which is below the historical cumulative average of 47,635 Chinook salmon for this date. Summer chum salmon passage, as of June 17, is estimated to be 228,534 fish which is above the historical cumulative median of 190,198 fish for this date. 

Anvik River Sonar / ADF&G

The Anvik River sonar began operations on June 15. Summer chum salmon passage, as of June 17, is 1,332 fish, which is below the historical cumulative median of 2,151 fish for this date. The biological escapement goal for summer chum salmon is 350,000–700,000 fish past the sonar project.

Management Strategy

To allow some reduced harvest of Chinook salmon and provide summer chum harvest opportunity, fishing time has been limited to half of the regulatory fishing schedule in Districts 1 through 4-A. One subsistence period was also cancelled in most lower river districts to allow early groups of fish to pass to the upper river. To further reduce Chinook salmon harvest, some subsistence periods have been restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh.

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.

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

Subsistence fishing is closed until 2 p.m. Friday June 22. 

Effective 2 p.m. Friday, June 22, subsistence salmon fishing will open with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets on a reduced regulatory schedule consisting of two 18-hour periods per week from:

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

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

Subsistence fishing is closed until 2 p.m. Thursday June 21. 

Effective 2 p.m. Thursday, June 21, subsistence salmon fishing will open with 6-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

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

Subsistence fishing is closed until 2 p.m. Thursday June 21. 

Effective 2 p.m. Thursday, June 21, subsistence salmon fishing will open with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets for one 18-hour period from:

• 2 p.m. Thursday June 21 to 8 a.m. Friday June 22  

Effective 2 p.m. Monday, June 24, subsistence salmon fishing will open with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets on a reduced regulatory schedule consisting of two 18-hour periods per week from:

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

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 Anvik River and the communities of Anvik, Grayling, Kaltag, Nulato, and Koyukuk):

Subsistence fishing is open for the following 24-hour periods:

      7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets: 6 p.m. Sunday, June 17 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 18

      6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets: 6 p.m. Sunday, June 24 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 25

      7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets: 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 27 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 28

Drift gillnets may be used for salmon in Subdistrict 4-A. 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 (including the communities of Galena and Ruby):

Fishing will close 6 p.m. Monday, June 18. Subsistence fishing will reopen 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 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. Wednesdays to 6 p.m. Thursdays
• 6 p.m. Sundays to 6 p.m. Mondays

Drift gillnets may be used for salmon in all waters of Subdistrict 4-B and 4-C. Subsistence fishing is closed between the 24-hour fishing periods. Fishermen in 4-B and 4-C may expect further gear restrictions of one or more periods to 6” or smaller mesh gillnets.

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.

Fishermen in Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B and 5-C should expect an announcement regarding reduced fishing schedule possibly by the weekend.

A fishing permit is required to fish for all species in the following locations: the portions of Subdistricts 5-C and 5-D from the western most tip of Garnet Island upstream to the mouth of 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 areas 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 subsistence fishing permit is required to fish for salmon in the Tanana River drainage below the Wood River are available from the ADF&G office in Fairbanks. Subsistence salmon fishermen 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 p.m. Thursday each week 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.

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.

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

A personal use salmon fishing permit and sport fish license are required to fish in Subdistrict 6-C. Fishermen are required to report their harvest catches to the department by 4:30 p.m. Thursday each week at (907) 459-7388. When you call, please provide your name, permit number, fishing location, and daily catch by species for that week.

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. A subsistence fishing permit is required in the Upper Tanana River Drainage.

Commercial Fishing:

The summer chum salmon commercial fishery in Districts 1 and 2 is limited to fishing 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:

Commercial fishing will be open for 58-hours with dip nets and beach seine gear:

• from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 20 until 10 a.m. Friday, June 22

District 2 Commercial:

Commercial fishing will be open for three 12-hour periods with dip nets and beach seines:

• Noon to Midnight, Friday, June 22
• Noon to Midnight, Saturday, June 23
• Noon to Midnight, Sunday, June 24

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

www.facebook.com/YukonRiverFishingADFG

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