Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 1, king salmon in the Ayakulik River drainage may not be retained or possessed. King salmon that are caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. As an added measure to reduce the probability of hooking mortality, the use of bait is prohibited within the Ayakulik River drainage, and only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used.

The new biological escapement goal (BEG) for the Ayakulik River king salmon is 4,800 to 8,400 fish. Despite management actions to reduce king salmon harvest in sport, commercial and subsistence fisheries, the king salmon BEG has not been met 5 of the last 10 years and the recent trend of poor runs warrants closure of the king salmon sport fishery.

The 2017 king salmon run will be monitored daily at the department’s Ayakulik River salmon counting weir. These restrictions may be relaxed by a subsequent emergency order if the inseason assessment indicates the king salmon run is stronger than anticipated.

For more information contact the Division of Sport Fish office in Kodiak at (907) 486-1880.

#17-2386