2018 Yukon River Fall Salmon Fishery News Release # 29 - Fall Update # 4, Yukon Area Salmon Fishery

The front of the fall season chum salmon migration is expected to be near Rampart around August 12 and the Canadian border around August 31. The peak of the first pulse of fall chum salmon is expected to be near Kaltag around August 14, Galena around August 16, and Tanana/Huslia around August 22, Stevens Village around August 25, Fort Yukon around August 31 and the Canadian border around September 10. The second pulse that just when through the lower Yukon River is expected to be near Anvik around August 16, Kaltag around August 20, Galena around August 22, and Tanana/Huslia around August 27, Rampart around August 29, Fort Yukon around September 6 and the Canadian border around September 16.

The coho salmon outlook is for an average run size (average is 206,000). The estimated coho salmon run size as of August 12 (based on the mainstem sonar near Pilot Station and the downstream harvest) is estimated to be 21,000 fish which is below the median of 28,000 fish for this date. The first quarter point of the run is typically August 17 at Pilot Station.

Fall Assessment Projects

Lower Yukon River Cooperative Fall Drift Test Fishing / ADF&G, YDFDA

The fall chum salmon cumulative CPUE for the project through August 12 was 780.34, which is slightly below the historical median of 813.17 for this date. The coho salmon cumulative CPUE through August 12 was 28.49, which is below the historical median of 99.15 for this date.

Mountain Village Drift Test Fishing / Asacarsarmiut Traditional Council

The fall chum salmon cumulative CPUE for the project through August 12 was 1,373.92, which is above the historical median of 1,167.73 for this date. The coho salmon cumulative CPUE through August 12 was 67.57, which is below the historical median of 163.44 for this date.

Sonar Project near Pilot Station / ADF&G

The cumulative passage estimate through August 12 was 351,000 fall chum salmon, which is slightly below the median passage of approximately 360,000 fish for this date. Though early in the coho salmon run the passage estimate through August 12 was 13,000 coho salmon which is below the average of 18,000 for this date.

Chandalar River Sonar/USFWS

Project operations were prepared to start on the normal date of August 8 however a high water event postponed counts. The first count of 257 attributed to chum salmon occurred on August 12 which is below the average daily passage of 635 for this date.

Age Composition Fall Season/ADF&G

The preliminary fall chum salmon age composition from the LYTF 6-inch drift gillnets indicates the run is dominated by age-4 fish, which is typical. As of August 9, the 2018 preliminary proportion of age-4 and age-5 fish is 58% and 40% respectively compared to the average of 63% age-4 and 36% age-5 fish, based on a samples size of 490. Females currently represent 57% of the fish sampled (n=530), which is near the average of 56%, as of August 11. Preliminary age samples from the District 1 commercial fishery also indicate similar proportions of 60% age-4 and 36% age-5 fish based on 404 samples.

Chum Salmon Stock Identification

Genetic mixed stock analysis (MSA) on fall season chum salmon for the strata from July 26–August 8 is in the lab and results will be posted in ADF&Gs Yukon River Daily Update as soon as they arrive and will be reported in the next weekly update.  

Fall Season Management Strategy:

Subsistence fishing in the Yukon Area from the Coastal District through Subdistricts 5-D Lower and Middle are under fall season management. Subdistrict 5-D Upper will transition to fall season on Thursday, August 16. During the fall season, subsistence fishermen may use 7.5 inch or smaller mesh size gillnets and fish wheels.

Summer Assessment Projects

Sonar Project Near Eagle / ADF&G

The sonar project near Eagle began operations on July 4. Chinook salmon passage as of August 12, is estimated to be 57,104 fish, which is above the historical cumulative average of 55,493 Chinook salmon for this date. The Interim Management Escapement Goal for Canadian-origin Chinook salmon is 42,500-55,000 fish which is assessed by estimating the passage at the mainstem sonar project near Eagle and then subtracting the estimated harvested fish removed upstream of the sonar.

The age composition of 257 Chinook salmon sampled from the drift gillnets in the Eagle sonar test fishery, through July 25, was 8% age-4, 42% age-5, 48% age-6, and 2% age-7 fish. The proportions of Chinook salmon that were age-5 and age-7 were slightly below average, while the proportions of fish that were age-4 and age-6 were slightly above average. The proportion of fish that were female, 45%, was above average.

Subsistence Fishing Schedule:

South Coastal District (Naskonat Peninsula to 1 mile south of Black River):

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 (1 mile south of Black River to Point Romanof):

Subsistence Fishing in District 1 is open for the fall season for 24 hours a day, seven days per week except for 12 hours before, during, and 12 hours after each commercial fishing period. Subsistence fishermen may use 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

During the current commercial period, subsistence salmon fishing in District 1, including the Pastolik and Pastoliak Rivers, closed at 9:00 p.m. Sunday, August 12, and will reopen at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 14. Additionally, during subsistence salmon closures, subsistence fishing in the Pastolik and Pastoliak Rivers (including 500 yards around the mouths) is closed for all gillnet fishing, including gillnets with 4-inch mesh or less, is closed in these waters 12 hours before, during, and 12 hours after each commercial opening.

District 2 (Mountain Village, St. Mary’s, Pilot Station, Marshall):

Subsistence Fishing in District 2 is open for the fall season for 24 hours a day, seven days per week except for 12 hours before, during, and 12 hours after each commercial fishing period. Subsistence fishermen may use 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

District 3 (Russian Mission, Paimiut, Holy Cross):

Subsistence fishing in District 3 is open for the fall season 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Subsistence fishermen may use 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

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 (from ¾ mile downstream of Old Paradise Village upstream to Cone Point, and includes the communities of Anvik, Grayling, Kaltag, Nulato, and Koyukuk):

Subsistence fishing is open five days per week from 6 p.m. Tuesdays until 6 p.m. Sundays with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh size drift and set gillnets and fish wheels.

At a recent Board of Fisheries meeting in Anchorage on July 17, emergency regulations were adopted that allow subsistence salmon fishing with drift gillnets in that portion of Subdistrict 4-A below Stink Creek after August 2. Subsistence fishermen in Subdistrict 4-A, including those fishing in the lower portion of Subdistrict 4-A below Stink Creek (includes the communities of Anvik and Grayling) may continue using drift gillnet gear for the remainder of the fall season.

Subdistrict 4-B and 4-C (from Cone Point upstream to the westernmost edge of Illinois Creek, which includes the communities of Galena and Ruby):

Subsistence fishing is open five days per week from 6 p.m. Sundays until 6 p.m. Fridays with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh size drift and set gillnets and fish wheels.

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 5-A, 5-B, and 5-C (including the communities of Tanana and Rampart and Yukon Bridge Area):

Subsistence fishing is open 5 days per week from 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays until 6:00 p.m. Sundays with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh size set gillnets and fish wheels.

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.

Subdistrict 5-D Lower & Middle (from an ADF&G regulatory marker two miles downstream of Waldron Creek upstream to 22 Mile Slough, and including all adjacent tributaries, which includes the communities of Stevens Village, Beaver, Venetie, Chalkyitsik, and Fort Yukon):

Subsistence fishing is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for the fall season. Subsistence fishermen may use 7.5-inch or smaller mesh size set gillnets and fish wheels.

Subdistrict 5-D Upper (from 22 Mile Slough upstream to the U.S./Canada border, and including all adjacent tributaries, which includes the communities of Circle and Eagle):

Subsistence fishing is currently closed. Effective 10 a.m. Thursday, August 16, subsistence fishing will open for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for the fall season. Subsistence fishermen may use 7.5-inch or smaller mesh size set gillnets and fish wheels.

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

Subsistence fishing is open for two 42-hour periods per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels from:

6 p.m. Fridays to 12 noon Sundays

6 p.m. Mondays to 12 noon Wednesdays

A subsistence fishing permit is required to fish for salmon in the Tanana River drainage below the Wood River. Permits 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 by reporting online at www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/PU/ or by calling (907) 459-7388. When you call, please provide your name, permit number, fishing location, and daily catch by species for that week.

Kantishna River:

The Kantishna River is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Fishermen may use fish wheels or gillnets with a mesh size of 7.5 inches or less.

Old Minto Area:

Subsistence fishing is currently open with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels on the regulatory schedule of five days per week from:

6 p.m. Fridays until 6 p.m. Wednesdays

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.

Personal Use Fishing:

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

Personal use fishing is open for two 42-hour periods per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels from:

6 p.m. Fridays to 12 noon Sundays

6 p.m. Mondays to 12 noon Wednesdays

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 by reporting online at www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/PU/ or by calling (907) 459-7388. When you call, please provide your name, permit number, fishing location, and daily catch by species for that week.

Commercial Fishing:

To date, commercial fishing has been focused on fall chum salmon in accordance with the Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan. Coho salmon are just beginning to enter the Yukon River now and their incidental harvest in the fall chum salmon directed fishery is increasing. Commercial fishermen in Districts 1 and 2 can expect to continue a 2-period per week schedule. District 4 and Subdistricts 5-B and 5-C are open to commercial fishing during the fall season. Currently, there are no registered buyers operating in District 4. Fishermen must confirm they have a buyer prior to fishing. Processors, catcher-sellers, or direct marketers are required to notify the department of their intent to operate by contacting the Fairbanks office at 459-7274.

Commercial Fishing Periods:

District 1 (including Black River) Commercial:

Fall Period 9:

District 1 Set Net Only Area is open from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Monday, August 13. The remainder of District 1 is open 12:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Monday, August 13. Fishermen may use 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

The preliminary cumulative commercial harvest through August 9 in District 1 is 72,136 fall chum salmon and 6,416 coho salmon.

District 2 Commercial:

Commercial fishermen should standby for announcements.

The preliminary cumulative commercial harvest through August 11 in District 2 is 49,633 fall chum salmon and 3,284 coho salmon.

Subdistrict 4-A Commercial (from ¾ miles downstream of Old Paradise Village to Cone Point):

The commercial fishing season is open for the fall season. Currently, there are no registered buyers operating in District 4. Processors, catcher-sellers, or direct marketers are required to notify the department of their intent to operate by contacting the Fairbanks office at 459-7274.

The preliminary cumulative commercial harvest through August 2 in Subdistrict 4-A is 596 fall chum salmon.

Subdistricts 5-B and 5-C Commercial (from Illinois Creek along the north bank of the Yukon River upstream the mouth of the Tanana River, and both along banks of the Yukon River upstream to the regulatory markers 2 miles below Waldron Creek, which includes the communities of Tanana and Rampart as well as the area near the Yukon River Bridge):

Commercial fishing in Subdistricts 5-B and 5-C is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week until further notice. Fishermen may use fish wheels or set gillnets with a mesh size of 6 inches or smaller.

Commercial fishermen must confirm their buyer or market prior to commercial fishing. Processors, catcher sellers, or direct marketers are required to notify the department of their intent to operate by contacting the Fairbanks office at 459-7274.

District 6 Commercial (from the mouth of the Tanana River upstream to the regulatory marker at the mouth of Wood River, upstream to the Chena River, which includes the communities of Manley, Nenana, and Fairbanks):

Commercial periods will open concurrent with subsistence and personal use fishing schedules in District 6 until further notice.

Commercial fishing is open for two 42-hour periods per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels:

• 6 p.m. Fridays to 12 noon Sundays
• 6 p.m. Mondays to 12 noon Wednesdays

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