Kuskokwim River Mainstem Fishing Opportunities

During these three opportunities, gillnets are restricted to set gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh, 60 feet or less in length, and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth. Additionally, set gillnets must be attached to the bank, oriented perpendicular to the river and may not be operated more than 100 feet from the ordinary high-water mark. Set gillnets need to be spaced 150 feet apart from another set gillnet. The salmon bearing tributaries listed in FSA-YD-23-01 will remain closed to the use of all gillnets for all salmon and all other methods and means for Chinook, Chum and Coho salmon to all users during these periods. Rivers listed as closed are:

•    The Eek River.
•    The Kwethluk River drainage beginning at its confluence with Kuskokuak Slough.
•    The Kasigluk and Kisaralik river drainages including Old Kuskokuak Slough to ADF&G regulatory markers at the confluence of Old Kuskokuak Slough and Kuskokuak Slough.
•    The Tuluksak River drainage including its confluence with the Kuskokwim River and downstream approximately 1-mile to ADF&G regulatory markers.
•    The Aniak River drainage to ADF&G regulatory markers at its confluence with the Kuskokwim River.
•    The Aniak box defined as: The waters of the Kuskokwim River main stem from the Yukon Delta NWR boundary at Aniak downstream to a line formed from the northwest corner of the runway (latitude 61° 35’ 16” N, longitude 159° 33’ 28” W), due north to a point on the southeast corner of the sandbar (latitude 61° 35’ 37” N, longitude 159° 33’ 16” W).

Federally qualified subsistence users may retain all salmon during these periods. After each set gillnet opportunity expires, Kuskokwim waters revert to closed under FSA-YD-23-01.

Gillnet (set or drift) opportunities for federally qualified subsistence users will be open in Federal public waters of the mainstem of the Kuskokwim River during the following dates and times:
•    June 12, 2023 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.
•    June 17, 2023 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.

During these two opportunities, gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth and 50 fathoms (300-feet) in aggregate (total set and drift gillnet) length below the Johnson River and 25 fathoms (150 feet) in aggregate (total set and drift gillnet) length above the Johnson River. Federally qualified subsistence users may retain all salmon during these periods. The salmon bearing tributaries listed in FSA-YD-23-01 will remain closed to all gillnets for all salmon and all methods and means for Chinook, Chum, and Coho salmon to all users during these gillnet periods.

After each gillnet opportunity expires, Kuskokwim waters revert to closed under FSA-YD-23-01.

Additional harvest opportunities for federally qualified subsistence users may be announced by subsequent news release after assessment of run strength and coordination with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and other parties identified in the Delegation of Authority provided to the Federal in-season Manager by the Federal Subsistence Board in a manner designed to balance long-term conservation of fisheries resources and for the continuation of subsistence uses along the Kuskokwim River.

Alternative gear types including dip nets, beach seines, fish wheels, and rod and reel may be used throughout gillnet closures, and federally qualified subsistence users may retain all salmon caught using these alternative gear types. Anticipated harvest levels by these gear types are not expected to negatively impact the salmon returns and will allow some additional opportunity for users.

Information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

Missing out on the latest Federal subsistence issues? If you’d like to receive emails and notifications on the Federal Subsistence Management Program you may subscribe for regular updates by emailing fws-fsb-subsistence-request@lists.fws.gov.

KUSKO TSA FSA YD 23-01

First Fishing Opportunity