2021 Yukon River Salmon Fall Fishery Announcement #23 District 4 and Koyukuk River Subsistence Fishing Schedule Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

The 2021 fall chum and coho salmon runs were the lowest on record which led to full season closures to subsistence salmon fishing. At this time, lower Yukon River assessment projects are complete for the season and very few salmon are entering the Yukon River. Subsistence fishing restrictions will be relaxed in District 4 once the majority of fall chum and coho salmon have migrated through the area. However, the Koyukuk River drainage will remain closed to subsistence salmon fishing through December to protect active salmon spawning areas. To provide more nonsalmon fishing opportunity, subsistence fishing for nonsalmon will be relaxed to seven days per week with 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and selective gear on October 30 in the Koyukuk River drainage.

10/04/2021
Last edited 10/04/2021
Contact Information

Christy Gleason, Area Management Biologist

(907) 459-7274

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

Subsistence Management Actions District 4:

Subsistence salmon fishing is closed and some nonsalmon gears are currently restricted. For the current schedule and allowed gear, call the recording: 1-866-479-7387.

Effective at the times, dates and communities listed below, subsistence salmon fishing will be open 24 hours per day, seven days per week with 7.5 inch or smaller mesh gillnets and all other legal salmon gear. All fish caught may be retained. 4-inch gillnet lengths will no longer be restricted to 60 feet.

Effective 8:00 a.m. Saturday, October 9 in Subdistrict 4-A Lower (Anvik and Grayling).

Effective 8:00 a.m. Thursday, October 14 in Subdistricts 4-A Upper (Kaltag, Nulato and Koyukuk). Effective 8:00 a.m. Saturday, October 16 in Subdistricts 4-B and 4-C (Galena and Ruby).

Koyukuk River drainage (Huslia, Hughes, Alatna, Allakaket, Bettles, Wiseman and Coldfoot): Subsistence salmon fishing remains closed through December.

Effective 8:00 a.m. Saturday, October 30, subsistence fishing for nonsalmon will be relaxed to 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Fishermen may use 4-inch gillnets 60 feet or shorter in length, other legal nonsalmon gear and selective gear such as manned fish wheels and dip nets. While using selective gear, fall chum salmon must be released alive immediately and coho salmon are strongly recommended to be released.

In the subsistence permit area of South Fork and the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River, gillnet gear may only be used from August 20 to June 30 and must be 3½ inches or smaller mesh size.

 

General reminders for winter subsistence fishing are as follows. Fishermen can continue to use legal nonsalmon gear. Only while ice fishing may a hook and line attached to a rod or pole be used upstream of the Nulato River drainage. In all of District 4, jigging gear may be used from shore ice September 21- May 15.

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

View Full News Release here: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1337550508.pdf

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