Contact:
Brain Marston
Yakutat Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 784-3222

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 11, sport fishing for king salmon in the Situk River is closed. King salmon may not be targeted, retained or possessed; king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The Situk River drainage is managed for a biological escapement goal (BEG) of 450 to 1,050 large king salmon. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Situk River king salmon stock failed to achieve the BEG. In 2013 and 2014 the goal was achieved after restrictive management measures were implemented in the sport and commercial fisheries. The 2015 pre-season forecast estimated a total run of approximately 600 large king salmon. Given recent fishery and harvest trends, a run of that size was not expected to achieve the escapement goal without pre-season fishery restrictions. Since May 8, the sport fishery has been restricted to non-retention of king salmon over 20 inches. As of July 9, 2015 only 99 large king salmon have passed the Situk weir indicating that the preseason estimate will not be reached, and the escapement goal may not be achieved. Therefore it is warranted to close the river to sport fishing for king salmon.

For further information, anglers should call the Division of Sport Fish, at (907) 784-3222.