Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 18, 2014

Bristol Bay Area

Week of July 15 to July 21
Issued July 15, 2014

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• The Department reduced the bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length to one per day, one in possession in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2014. These restrictions are made in accordance with 5 AAC 06.361, Nushagak/Mulchatna King Salmon Management Plan, as adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries. The plan directs the Department to reduce the bag and possession limits for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from two fish, only one of which may exceed 28 inches in length to one fish 20 inches or greater in length in the sport fishery when the department projects the total inriver return will be at least 70,000, but less than 95,000 fish. This restriction is implemented so that the sport fishery does not exceed the 5,000 fish guideline harvest level when projected inriver returns are less than 95,000. Through July 2, an estimated total of 56,050 king salmon have passed the sonar at Portage Creek, and the total inriver return is projected to be at least 70,000, but less than 95,000 fish. The department will continue to monitor the king salmon escapement and may liberalize this restriction or further restrict the sport fishery as specified in the management plan.

• The Department of Fish and Game increased the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon from five per day, five in possession to ten per day, ten in possession in all waters of the Wood River drainage effective 12:01 a.m., Friday, July 4. The escapement of sockeye salmon on the Wood River has exceeded the escapement goal of 700 thousand to 1.5 million fish. Through July 2, over 1.9 million sockeye salmon have been counted at the Wood River tower. Therefore, it is warranted to increase the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon in the Wood River sport fishery and thereby provide opportunity to harvest fish surplus to the escapement goal.

• During the March 2014 Statewide Alaska Board of Fisheries meeting, the board liberalized Nushagak River drainage sport fishing regulations to allow the use of multiple hooks. The new regulation allows anglers fishing in portions of the Nushagak River drainage to use multiple hooks from August 1 - April 30. This change did not affect the single hook requirement for the waters of the Nushagak River from May 1- July 31, or regulations in the upper Nushagak River and several tributaries adopted to protect rainbow trout. This liberalization is not published in the 2014 Bristol Bay sport fishing regulation summary, however, it is in effect this season.

Fresh waters

King Salmon

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
o Sport fishing remains slow to fair in the Naknek and Alagnak drainages.
• Nushagak drainages.
o The Department reduced the bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length to one per day, one in possession in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2014. These restrictions are made in accordance with 5 AAC 06.361, Nushagak/Mulchatna King Salmon Management Plan, as adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries (see above).
o Sport fishing is currently reported as fair.
o The sonar near Portage Creek is operational and 65,485 kings have been counted by the sonar through July 15. This is approximately 11 days behind expected levels. Management will be in accordance with the Nushagak/Mulchatna King Salmon Management Plan.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages:
o Sport fishing is still reported as good and should continue to be good through this week.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
o Fishing for rainbow trout has slowed down since last week.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages:
o Sport fishing for Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and Arctic grayling should be good.
• Wood River Lakes system:
o Fishing is reported as good at the outlets of salmon spawning streams as smolt continue moving down river.

Northern Pike

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
o Fishing should be fair to good.
• Wood River Lake system:
o Fishing is fair to good along lake and slough shores and in shallow weedy bays.

Salt waters

Halibut

• Nushagak Bay
o Fishing should be fair to good off the coast of Protection Point.