Contact:
Carol Kerkvliet
Assistant Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 235-1730

Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure will be allowed while sport fishing in the Anchor River, Deep Creek and Ninilchik River beginning Saturday, June 2, 2012, at 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2012. “Single hook” means a fish hook with only one point. The preseason emergency order that closed the Anchor River each Wednesday during the king salmon season, and also relocated the Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker approximately 1,000 feet downstream of the junction of the north and south forks, remains in effect.

The Anchor River escapement of king salmon through May 29, 2012, was 321 fish, well below last year’s escapement of 491 king salmon and the 2004-2011 average escapement of 1,315 king salmon for this date. At this time, the department is unable to predict with certainty that the Anchor River king salmon escapement will attain the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 3,800–10,000 fish. From 2004-2008, 9 percent to 28 percent of the Anchor River king salmon escapement was upstream of the salmon weir by May 29. The projected escapement for 2012, based on average run timing to run timing that is six days late is between 2,134 and 4,649 fish.

King salmon escapements to the Ninilchik River weir were well below the SEG of 500-1,300 king salmon in 2007 (543), 2009 (528) and near the lower bound of the escapement goal in 2010 (605) and 2011 (668). King salmon escapements to Deep Creek have been within the SEG of 350-800 king salmon, except in 2008 when the aerial survey count was 205 fish. In order to minimize the effect of conservation actions for the Anchor River on Ninilchik River and Deep Creek king salmon escapements, it is warranted to restrict fishing gear on these two systems as well.

Prohibiting the use of bait, treble hooks and multiple hooks is expected to substantially decrease fishing mortality of these stocks and allow escapement goals to be achieved.

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