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

The retention of sockeye salmon in the Larson Creek drainage and within a one-quarter mile radius of its confluence with the Talkeetna River will be prohibited beginning 12:01 a.m. Thursday, August 11.

“The run of sockeye to Larson Creek is winding down for this year,” Sam Ivey, the Area Management Biologist in Palmer, said. “The sustainable escapement goal for Larson Creek is between 15,000 and 50,000 fish. As of August 8, 6,963 sockeye salmon have been counted through the weir. We need to see more fish pass through the weir. Even if we use a one week late run timing model, the projected escapement is less than what is required to achieve the escapement goal. Allowing harvest of sockeye to continue would further limit the number of fish in the creek and have an impact on the spawning population.”

Sockeye salmon may not be targeted, retained or possessed and must be released immediately if caught incidentally. Sport fishing and harvest of other salmon is not affected by this emergency order. Larson Creek is in Unit 5 of the Susitna River drainage. Further regulatory information can be found on pages 38 and 39 of the 2016 Southcentral sport fish regulation summary book.

For more information, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in Palmer at 907-746-6300.