The Division of Sport Fish is closing the mainstem of the Porcupine River to sport fishing for chum salmon effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2018; tributaries such as the Sheenjek, Black, Coleen, and Salmon Trout rivers will remain open. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for chum salmon in the mainstem Porcupine River, including catch-and-release fishing. Chum salmon in the mainstem Porcupine River may not be retained or possessed, and if caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The fall chum salmon run into the upper Porcupine River is poor. Based on late run timing projections, the lower end of the Fishing Branch weir treaty agreement interim management escapement goal, with Canada, of 22,000 to 49,000 fish will likely not be achieved. Through September 28, the estimated cumulative fall chum salmon passage at the mainstem Porcupine River sonar located near Old Crow was 11,800 fish and was well below the 2011 to 2017 average of 30,775 for that date. To improve fall chum escapement into the spawning grounds in Canada, the department is closing sport fishing for chum salmon in the Alaska portion of the mainstem Porcupine River.

For additional information contact Klaus Wuttig, Management Coordinator – Region III, 907-459-7344.

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