(Yakutat) – In order to protect the low number of king salmon returning to the Situk River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has temporarily increased the area closed to sport fishing downstream of the fish counting weir on the lower Situk River.

From June 28 to August 15 sport fishing is not allowed between regulatory markers located approximately 300 feet upstream of the Situk River weir (river mile 1.8) to markers located approximately 2,100 feet downstream of the weir. This portion of the river encompasses the entire “Rodeo Hole”.

The Situk River drainage is managed for a biological escapement goal (BEG) of 450 to 1,050 large king salmon, with a management target of 730 large king salmon. As of June 24, 2019, 46 large king salmon have passed through the Situk River weir. This emergency order protects king salmon holding in several pools downstream of the weir from incidental hooking and catch-and-release angling practices.

Anglers are reminded that the entire Situk River drainage is closed to sport fishing for king salmon. King salmon may not be targeted and any incidentally caught king salmon may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Anyone needing further information concerning this announcement please contact Matt Catterson, Yakutat Area Sport Fish Biologist at (907) 784-3222.

#19-2771