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

Sport fisheries within the Northern Cook Inlet Area will be managed conservatively during the 2013 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. The following restrictions are effective Wednesday, May 15, 2013 in the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6) and Little Susitna River:

• 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 in combination from the Susitna River drainage and Little Susitna River. King salmon recorded before Wednesday, May 15, on the harvest portion of an Alaska sport fishing license or harvest record card do not count against the two king salmon that may be harvested beginning May 15, but do count against the Cook Inlet annual limit of five king salmon.
• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed, including the Deshka River. Single-hook means a fish hook with only one point. Treble hooks and more than one single-hook are prohibited.
• Upon harvesting a king salmon over 20 inches in length, a person may not fish for any species of fish on the same day in waters open to king salmon in the Susitna River drainage and the Knik Arm drainages.
• Harvest is allowed on the Deshka River (Unit 1), and on specific days within the Yentna River drainage (Unit 4), except for the Talachulitna River. Harvest within Unit 4 will be restricted to Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays only; catch-and-release fishing will be allowed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Harvest will be allowed on the Deshka River seven days per week; however, bait will not be allowed.
• King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited within Unit 1 (except on Deshka River), on the Parks Highway streams within Unit 2, the upper Susitna (Unit 3), Talachulitna River (Unit 4), Talkeetna River (Unit 5), and Chulitna River (Unit 6). Catch-and-release fishing will be allowed during days and times normally open to king salmon fishing within these management units. King salmon may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. In the waters of Unit 2 open to catch-and-release fishing for king salmon, fishing for trout and other species will not be affected by these emergency regulations for king salmon and will continue as written in current regulation.
• King salmon harvest in the Little Susitna River is allowed only on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; only catch-and-release fishing is allowed on these days. King salmon that are intended to be released may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all restrictions.

Please refer to pages 23–32 of the 2013 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a complete description of Susitna River waters and locations of boundary markers for areas open to king salmon fishing. These regulations can also be found online at: 

www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/fishregulations/PDFs/southcentral/2013scsusitnariverregulations.pdf

Northern Cook Inlet king salmon stocks have been well below average since 2007. This management strategy, in combination with closing the first Northern District commercial king salmon fishing period and reducing the remaining four periods from 12 hours to 6 hours, is designed to provide fishing opportunity throughout the season and reduce the potential for midseason closures, yet achieve the escapement goals in Northern Cook Inlet.

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