(Juneau) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is announcing that beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, September 15, fishing for coho salmon and snagging will be prohibited in the marine waters of Gastineau Channel, north of the south side of Juneau-Douglas Bridge and south of the north side of Salmon Creek Bridge (see attached map). Snagging or attempting to snag is prohibited in this area for all species. Coho salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed. Coho salmon hooked elsewhere than the mouth, caught while fishing for other species, must be released immediately. This closure will be in effect from September 15 through September 30, 2022.

Based on the low number of tag recoveries to date, and the low number of coho salmon that have returned to the Douglas Island Pink and Chum (DIPAC) Inc. Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, it indicates a very poor return of hatchery produced coho salmon. This extremely low return is not expected to meet hatchery broodstock goals this year. This closure is necessary to provide sufficient coho salmon to potentially achieve hatchery broodstock needs.

For further information concerning this announcement please contact Juneau Area Management Biologist, Daniel Teske at (907) 465-8152 or visit our website.

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