(Kodiak) - In favor of protecting returning king salmon and ensuring fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation restriction for king salmon in the Ayakulik River drainage effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 1 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 2019. During this restriction, king salmon may not be possessed or retained; king salmon that are caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. In addition, as an added measure to reduce incidentally hooked king salmon, the use of bait is prohibited and only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used in the Ayakulik River drainage.

“Even with management actions to reduce king salmon retention in sport, commercial, and subsistence fisheries, the king salmon escapement goal has not been achieved for several years,” stated Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum. “The recent trend of poor king salmon returns warrants the regulation restrictions of the king salmon sport fishery in the Ayakulik River drainage.”

Retention opportunities may be restored in the Ayakulik River drainage by a subsequent emergency order, if inseason assessment indicates the king salmon run is stronger than anticipated. Beginning late May, ADF&G staff will closely monitor this fishery at the Ayakulik River salmon counting weir.

For additional information, please contact the Division of Sport Fish Kodiak Office at (907) 486-1880.

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