(Released: March 01, 2018 - Expired: July 25, 2018)

Division of Sport Fish
Tom Brookover, Director
Anchorage Headquarters Office
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518


Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Sam Cotten, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
www.adfg.alaska.gov


Contact: Tyler Polum, Area Management Biologist
(907) 486-1880

Ayakulik River King Salmon Sport Fishery Catch-and-Release Only

(Kodiak) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation restriction in the Ayakulik River drainage for king salmon effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 1, 2018. During the closure, 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 broodstock has not been achieved six out of the last ten 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 an in-season assessment indicates the king salmon run is stronger than anticipated. Beginning late May, ADF&G staff will be closely monitor this fishery at the Ayakulik River salmon counting weir as the season progresses.

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

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