Fisheries, Subsistence, and Habitat
Publications Searchable Database
Search Again| Division: | Sport Fish |
| Title: | Surveys of the chinook and coho salmon sport fisheries in the Nushagak and Mulchatna rivers, Alaska 1994 |
| Author: | Dunaway, D. O. and S. J. Fleischman |
| Year: | 1995 |
| Report ID: | Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 95-18, Anchorage, AK |
| Abstract: | During the summer of 1994 fishery surveys were conducted on the chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch sport fisheries that occur along portions of Alaskas Nushagak and Mulchatna rivers. The chinook salmon fishery surveys were conducted on the lower Nushagak River from 20 June through 16 July and from 24 June through 25 July in the middle section of the Mulchatna River. The coho salmon fishery survey on the lower Nushagak River began 29 July and was curtailed 8 August when the sport fishery was closed by emergency announcement. The closure of the sport fishery prevented any coho survey on the Mulchatna River. Analyses were limited to the chinook salmon fisheries. In the lower Nushagak River, 1,325 anglers were interviewed; 93% of the angler trips caught one or more chinook salmon, and 67% of the trips resulted in harvests of one or more chinook salmon. Thirty-three percent, 27%, and 25% of the angler trips to the lower Nushagak River resulted in daily harvests of 0, 1, and 2 chinook salmon respectively. Over 77% of the lower Nushagak River anglers were guided, 88% were not residents of Alaska, and roughly 96% of the anglers used spin tackle or combined bait with spin tackle. In the Mulchatna River, 728 anglers were interviewed; 56% of the angler trips caught one or more chinook salmon, and 44% of the trips resulted in harvests of one or more chinook salmon. Twenty percent of the angler trips took one chinook salmon, 9% took two fish, and nearly 15% harvested the full daily bag limit of three chinook salmon. Roughly 50% of the Mulchatna River anglers were guided, 98% were not residents of Alaska, and 49% of the anglers were not citizens of the United States. Anglers used spin tackle in 89% of the trips and fly fishing gear in 11% of the trips to the Mulchatna River fishery. Results were compared to those from similar surveys conducted in 1991. Angling success appeared to be much better in 1994 in the lower Nushagak River, while gear restrictions along the middle section of the Mulchatna River appear to have reduced angler success there. |
| Keywords: | CHINOOK SALMON, ONCORHYNCHUS TSHAWYTSCHA, COHO SALMON, ONCORHYNCHUS KISUTCH, SPORT FISHING, SPORT HARVEST, SPORT CATCH, CREEL SURVEY, FISHERY SURVEY, ANGLER SUCCESS, BAG LIMIT, GUIDED ANGLERS, UNGUIDED ANGLERS, GEAR TYPE, TERMINAL TACKLE, NUSHAGAK RIVER, |