Contact:
Sam Ivey
Area Management Biologist
Phone: 907-746-6300

The Little Susitna River is closed to fishing for king salmon effective 12:01 a.m., Friday, June 20, through the remainder of the king salmon sport fishing season. The closure prohibits sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. The closure includes all waters of the Little Susitna River from its confluence with Cook Inlet upstream to the Parks Highway Bridge. Little Susitna River anglers may continue to fish for species other than king salmon downstream of the Parks Highway Bridge.

To date, only 19 king salmon have passed the Little Susitna weir, which is located at approximately river mile 32.5 and four miles upstream of the Little Susitna Public Use Facility (LSPUF). The escapement goal for the Little Susitna is 900-1,800 king salmon based on a post season aerial survey. Over the past three weekends approximately 200 harvested king salmon have been reported in an exit survey conducted by the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation at the LSPUF. Staff surveys and angler reports indicate king salmon holding in the lower river under conditions of low water making them vulnerable to harvest. Staff surveys, harvest reports, and weir counts to date indicate the escapement goal is not likely to be achieved without further restrictions. At this time it is prudent to prohibit further harvest until the run can be more fully assessed and close the Little Susitna River to king salmon fishing.

For more information, contact Sam Ivey at (907) 746-6300.