(Released: June 20, 2018 - Expired: July 13, 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: Sam Ivey, Area Management Biologist
(907) 746-6300

Little Susitna River King Salmon Fishing Closed

(Palmer) – In favor of protecting returning king salmon and increase fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation closure for the Little Susitna River drainage, effective 6:00 a.m., Friday, June 22 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 13, 2018. King salmon fishing is closed, including catch-and-release, in all waters of the Little Susitna River from its confluences with Cook Inlet upstream to the Parks Highway Bridge. King salmon may not be retained or possessed. King salmon caught must be released immediately. A person may not remove a king salmon from the water before releasing the fish.

This sport fishing regulation closure supersedes the restriction issued on June 13, 2018, that prohibited the retention of king salmon in the Little Susitna River from June 15 through July 13.

“Since mid-June, high water conditions have prevented ADF&G staff from counting king salmon as they pass through the weir. Nonetheless, substantiated reports from guides and anglers in conjunction with an observed low abundance of five-year king salmon which typically make up about half of the run on any given year by ADF&G staff, indicates that the Little Susitna River is experiencing a weak run of king salmon,” stated Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey. “To sustain the king salmon brood stock, it is imperative that ADF&G close the Little Susitna River to king salmon fishing. Low king salmon productivity is being felt not only in Southcentral Alaska but statewide and every fish counts towards achieving our escapements goals in 2018.”

In conjunction with this closure, a sport fishing regulation closure was issued for Units 1-6 of the Susitna River drainages closing king salmon fishing, including catch-and-release. In addition, sport fishing gear is limited to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure when fishing in the Little Susitna River and Units 1-6 of the Susitna River drainages in those waters normally open to king salmon fishing. Sport fishing for other species will be allowed seven days per week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. through July 13, 2018. 

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey at (907) 746-6300.

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