Contact:
Sam Ivey
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 746-6300

Sport fisheries within the Northern Cook Inlet Area will be managed conservatively during the 2012 season in response to low king salmon abundance over recent years, a below-average outlook for the upcoming season, and uncertainty over how quickly king salmon abundance may rebound. Susitna River king salmon fisheries (Units 1-6) are restricted beginning Tuesday, May 15, through Friday, July 13, as follows:

• Annual limit of two (2) king salmon 20 inches or longer. The total annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or longer taken from fresh waters of Cook Inlet remains at five (5), but no more than two may be taken from the Susitna River drainage. Any king salmon recorded before Tuesday, May 15, on the harvest portion of an Alaska sport fishing license or harvest record card does not count against the two king salmon that may be harvested beginning May 15, but does count against the Cook Inlet annual limit of five king salmon.
• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed. Single-hook means a fish hook with only one point. The use of treble hooks and more than one single-hook is prohibited. The Deshka River is excluded from this restriction. On the Deshka River from its mouth upstream about 17 miles to department markers near Chijuk Creek and waters within ½ mile of its confluence with the Susitna River, anglers may continue to use bait and multiple hooks as outlined in the regulations summary booklet.
• Beginning June 12 through July 13, king salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited on the Parks Highway streams within Unit 2 of the Susitna River. In the waters of Unit 2 normally open to king salmon fishing, fishing for any species will be closed each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the following dates: June 12–15, June 19–22, June 26–29, and July 3-13. Beginning June 16, only catch-and-release fishing is allowed for king salmon from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. during the following three-day weekends (Saturday–Monday): June 16–18, June 23–25, and June 30–July 2. King salmon may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Waters in Unit 2 normally closed to king salmon fishing throughout the year (upstream of the Parks Highway bridge or department markers, etc.) are not affected by the restrictions to Unit 2 waters; anglers may continue to fish in Unit 2 waters normally closed to king salmon fishing for trout and other species. Please refer to pages 23–32 of the 2012 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a complete description of Susitna River waters and locations of boundary markers in these streams. These regulations can also be found online at:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?ADFG=fishregulations.sport

Northern Cook Inlet king salmon stocks have been well below average since 2007. This management strategy, in addition to reducing the Northern District commercial king salmon fishing periods from 12 hours to 6 hours is designed to provide fishing opportunity throughout the season and reduce the potential for midseason closures while conserving northern Cook Inlet king salmon. Restrictions may be relaxed late in the season if escapement goals are projected to be achieved and additional harvest is available.

For more information, contact Sam Ivey at (907) 746-6300.

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