Fisheries, Subsistence, and Habitat
Publications Searchable Database
Search Again| Division: | Sport Fish |
| Title: | Surveys of the chinook and coho salmon sport fisheries in the Kanektok River, Alaska 1994 |
| Author: | Dunaway, D. O. and S. J. Fleischman |
| Year: | 1995 |
| Report ID: | Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 95-22, Anchorage, AK |
| Abstract: | During the summer of 1994, surveys were conducted on the chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch sport fisheries that occur along the lower 16 km of the Kanektok River of southwestern Alaska. The chinook salmon fishery survey was conducted 19 June through 19 July. The coho salmon fishery survey began 5 August and ended on 23 August. During the chinook salmon fishery 787 anglers were interviewed, 75% (SE = 2%) of the angler-trips caught one or more chinook salmon, and 39% (SE = 2%) of the trips resulted in harvest of one or more chinook salmon. Thirty-six percent, 2%, and 1% of the angler-trips resulted in daily harvest of 1, 2, and 3 chinook salmon, respectively. The daily bag limit was reduced to one chinook salmon per day on 23 June, probably affecting the distribution of harvest. Sixty-eight percent (SE = 2%) of the lower Kanektok River angler-trips were unguided, 76% (SE = 2%) were not residents of Alaska, and tackle used was roughly one-third exclusively spin gear, one-third spin and bait combined, and one-third exclusively fly fishing gear. During the coho salmon fishery 585 anglers were interviewed, 97% (SE = 1%) of the angler-trips caught one or more coho salmon, and 34% (SE = 2%) of the trips resulted in harvest of one or more coho salmon. Six percent, 6%, 4%, 4%, and 15% of the angler-trips resulted in daily harvests of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 coho salmon, respectively. Unguided anglers made 48% (SE = 2%) of the trips and non-Alaskan residents made 90% (SE = 1) of the trips. The majority of angler-trips used spin gear (28%, SE = 2%) or fly fishing gear (59%, SE = 2%). Results of the 1994 survey were compared to those from similar surveys conducted in 1991. The distribution of catch and harvest was similar between 1991 and 1994 except that more angler-trips harvested four or more coho salmon in 1994. The percentages of guided and unguided trips varied between surveys but in no clear direction. Both the 1991 and 1994 surveys found that a majority (76%-90%) of angler-trips were made by non-Alaskan residents. |
| 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, KANEKTOK RIVER |