2021 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #12 District 6 Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Schedule

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

The 2021 fall chum salmon run size is critically low, worse than last season’s fall chum salmon run that was the lowest on record. As of August 12, the Yukon River mainstem sonar near Pilot Station estimated 83,000 chum salmon (summer and fall) have passed upriver. Genetic mixed stock analysis results indicate only 39,000 of those were fall chum salmon, which is well below last year’s genetic estimate of 99,000 fall chum salmon for that date. Based on inseason assessment projects at the midpoint of the run, the current projection indicates a run size of approximately 100,000 fish. According to the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan, the inseason projection does not meet the threshold of 300,000 fish needed to allow subsistence or personal use fishing. In addition, the projection is unlikely to meet the drainagewide escapement goal of 300,000-600,000 fall chum salmon and tributary escapement goals. Therefore, subsistence and personal use salmon fishing will be closed to begin the fall season. Fishermen should prepare for continued closures.

08/13/2021
Last edited 01/25/2022
Contact Information

Christy Gleason, Acting Area Management Biologist

(907) 949-1320

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

In Fairbanks fishing schedule hotline: 459-7387

Consistent with transitioning to fall season management, the following management actions are in effect: Subsistence Fishing

Subdistricts 6-A and 6-B (the Tanana River drainage up to the Wood River, which includes Manley, Minto, Nenana, Healy, Cantwell, Lake Minchumina and all tributaries):

These areas will transition to fall season management at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 16, and remain closed to subsistence salmon fishing.

Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used during subsistence salmon fishing closures to target non-salmon. However, due to the conservation concern for Chinook and chum salmon, 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets are restricted to a maximum length of 60-feet. Fishermen are reminded to use this gear in areas where non-salmon species are abundant to avoid incidentally harvesting Chinook and chum salmon.

Additionally, other legal gear to take non-salmon species during subsistence salmon fishing closures in this area includes hand line, longline, fyke net, dip net and spear.

In the Tanana River drainage up to the Wood River, a subsistence permit is required for salmon fishing. A subsistence permit is required for northern pike fishing in the Tolovana River drainage, including Minto Flats.

Personal Use Salmon Fishing

Subdistrict 6-C (from the regulatory markers at the mouth of the Wood River upstream to the downstream mouth of the Salcha River, which includes the communities of Fairbanks, North Pole, Salcha and all tributaries):

This area will transition to fall season management at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 16, and remain closed to personal use salmon fishing.

Personal Use Whitefish and Sucker Fishing

Fairbanks Nonsubsistence Area (a portion of the Tanana River drainage from the Wood River upstream to the mouth of the Volkmar River on the north bank and the mouth of the Johnson River on the south bank, which includes Fairbanks, North Pole, Salcha, Delta Junction and all tributaries):

Personal Use whitefish and sucker fishing in Subdistrict 6-C with gillnets and fish wheels follows the Subdistrict 6-C salmon fishing schedule and is closed until further notice. Fishing with other gear for whitefish and suckers in the Fairbanks Nonsubsistence Area remains open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, subject to permit stipulations.

A personal use whitefish and sucker permit is required for this area.

The department would like to thank fishermen for their continued cooperation during these times of conservation for Chinook and chum salmon.

Subsistence and Personal Use permits are available at www.adfg.alaska.gov/store.

For Yukon Area advisory announcements and fish counts, visit www.facebook.com/YukonRiverFishingADFG. To receive advisory announcements by email, sign up at www.cfnews.adfg.alaska.gov.

This is an announcement by the ADF&G in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

To reach the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Yukon River Subsistence Fishery Manager, Holly Carroll, please call 907-351-3029.

View Full News Release

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