(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

Karluk River Closed to Sport Fishing for King Salmon

(Kodiak) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing closure in the Karluk River for king salmon effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 1, 2018. This closure prohibits sport fishing for king salmon including catch-and-release. During the closure, king salmon may not be targeted, possessed, or retained; king salmon that are caught incidentally while fishing for other species 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 Karluk River drainage below Karluk Lake.

“Although escapements have occasionally improved slightly since record lows in 2008, the recent trend of poor runs and very low king salmon returns warrant closing the Karluk River sport fishery,” stated Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum. “Since 2006, the Karluk River king salmon broodstock has only been achieved three times, even with management actions to reduce king salmon retention in sport, commercial, and subsistence fisheries. In January 2011, the Board of Fisheries designated Karluk River king salmon a stock of concern.”

King salmon angling opportunities may be restored in the Karluk River 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 Karluk 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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