2018 Yukon River Salmon Fishery News Release # 39 - Subdistrict 5-D Subsistence Fishing Schedule

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

Current assessment is indicating the 2018 Chinook salmon run may be coming in below the lower end of the preseason projection. Subsistence restrictions including reduced fishing time and restricted gillnet mesh size are necessary to reduce the overall subsistence harvest for Chinook salmon. Fishermen may need to adjust their Chinook salmon harvest goals to account for this weaker than expected run size.

07/06/2018

Last edited 01/25/2022

Contact Information

Holly Carroll, Area Management Biologist

Lower Yukon Area Office

(907) 949-1320

Fred Bue, Yukon Area Inseason Manager

Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office

(907) 455-1849 or (800) 267-3997

Toll free fishing schedule hotline: (866) 479-7387

Fishing schedule hotline in Fairbanks: 459-7387

This news release places Subdistrict 5-D on a reduced subsistence salmon fishing schedule with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets. The first pulse of Chinook salmon should begin arriving in the upper portion of Subdistrict 5-D around July 7.

Because of the long time it takes salmon to migrate all the way through this section of river, Subdistrict 5-D will be managed as two areas: the Lower and Middle areas (on the same schedule), and Upper (see map below).

Subsistence Management Actions:

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

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, July 5, subsistence fishing is open on the following schedule of one 3.5 day (84 hour) period per week with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels:

From 10 a.m. Thursdays to 10 p.m. Sundays

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

Subsistence fishing is currently open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

Effective 10 p.m. Sunday, July 8, subsistence salmon fishing will close.

Effective 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12, subsistence fishing is open on the following schedule of one 3.5 day (84 hour) period per week with 6-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels:

From 10 a.m. Thursdays to 10 p.m. Sundays

During subsistence salmon fishing closures, only gillnets with 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon species.

A fishing permit is required for all species 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.