(Palmer) - The Fish Creek sockeye salmon escapement goal has been achieved and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is projecting a total run in excess of 35,000 fish; therefore, ADF&G is opening the Fish Creek Personal Use Dipnet Fishery. Effective 6:00 a.m. Saturday, July 24 through 11:00 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021, dipnetting for salmon, except king salmon, will be allowed only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. each day. Dipnetters may harvest salmon off the shore or a boat from the ADF&G markers located on both sides of the terminus of Fish Creek, upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately one-quarter mile upstream from Knik-Goose Bay Road.

This dipnet fishery is in conjunction with the Upper Cook Inlet dipnet fisheries on the Kenai, Kasilof, and Susitna Rivers, and the total salmon household limit applies to a combination from all four fisheries. A 2021 Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit and a resident sport fishing license are required and must be on you while dipnetting. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery. Dipnet permits are available at local ADF&G offices, ADF&G online store, and at participating vendors. Only one Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit is allowed per household and permits will not be reissued for a household that has already returned its permit to ADF&G.

ADF&G reminds dipnetters to please stay off private property. The majority of property adjacent to Fish Creek downstream of the Knik-Goose Bay Road Bridge is privately owned. All of the property south of Fish Creek along Knik Arm is privately owned. Dipnetters trespassing across private property may be subject to a fine. Respect “no trespassing” signs. Permission to use private uplands for any reason must be obtained from the landowner. When accessing the mouth of Fish Creek, legal access is restricted to below the mean high tide line. Remember, all-terrain vehicles (four-wheelers) are not allowed in creeks or adjacent creekside property without a habitat permit. There is no launch for trailered boats from Knik-Goose Bay Road. The nearest public boat launch for trailered boats is the Ship Creek boat launch in Anchorage. Dipnetters are advised to use extreme caution when fishing lower Fish Creek due to mud and large tidal shifts.

Dipnetters are reminded to review the Fish Creek Dipnet Fishery regulations on pages 13-15 of the 2021 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Palmer Office at (907) 746-6300.

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