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The shortage of king salmon this
summer is forcing the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to enact more
restrictions on their catch in various parts of the state.
Effective Sunday the
Chignik River drainage sport fishery for kings 20 inches and greater is restricted to
catch-and-release only and the use of bait is prohibited. The king salmon
target range for escapement in the Chignik drainage is 1,300 to 2,700 fish,
however the weir count as of July 11 was just 298, which is the lowest on
record for the time period. Based on historical run timing, approximately 40
percent of the escapement has likely already occurred, and the concern is the
biological escapement goal will not be reached. The restrictions will be in
effect through the end of the season, which closes by regulation August 9th.
Meanwhile
the catch-and-release restrictions in the marine waters of Cook Inlet have been
extended. Kings may not be retained in the salt water within one mile of shore
south of the mouth of the Ninilchik River to the latitude of Bluff Point. That
reg went into effect at 12:01 this (Monday) morning and will last through the
end of the month. The restriction has been put into place to ensure escapement
for the Kenai River trophy fishery as any late run kings migrate through the
area. The Kenai River regulations allow harvest for king salmon less than 20 inches in length, and for trophy
fish greater than 55 inches in
length.
In
addition, the Ninilchik River hatchery king salmon sport fishery is closed as
of today in an effort to meet the king escapement and egg-take goals there. The
closure prohibits all sport fishing for kings, including catch-and-release. The
escapement goal is 111 king salmon pairs for the hatchery fish, but only two
have crossed the weir this month. Fishing is allowed on the Ninilchik River,
Deep Creek, Stariski Creek and the Anchor River, but anglers are restricted to
one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure or fly, and must release any kings
caught without taking them from the water.
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