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Division: Sport Fish
Title: Age composition and spawning escapement of Chinook salmon in Karluk, Ayakulik, and Chignik rivers, Alaska, 2004-2005
Author: Tracy, D. A., J. S. Schmidt, and S. J. Fleischman
Year: 2010
Report ID: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 10-06, Anchorage.
Abstract: In 1993 the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, initiated a project to monitor the status of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha stocks of Karluk, Ayakulik and Chignik rivers. This report presents data collected during 2004 and 2005. During this time period the inriver returns of Chinook salmon to Karluk and Ayakulik rivers were censused by counting fish passing through weirs on the rivers, while inriver returns to Chignik River were estimated from sample weir counts taken at hourly intervals. Age and sex compositions of inriver returns were estimated by sampling Chinook salmon at the weirs. Total sport fishing effort, and catch and harvest of Chinook salmon for Karluk and Ayakulik rivers were estimated annually through the Statewide Harvest Survey (SWHS); sport fisheries occurring upriver of weirs at both drainages were censused during 2004. In 2004, the inriver return to Karluk River was 7,525 Chinook salmon. Anglers harvested an estimated 1,113 (720 above the weir, from census) Chinook salmon and released 1,974. Estimated sport fishing effort for the entire season was 2,249 angler-days. Estimated spawning escapement was 6,805 Chinook salmon. In 2005, the inriver return to Karluk River was 4,798 Chinook salmon. Anglers harvested an estimated 368 Chinook salmon (114 above the weir, SE = 68) and released 715. Estimated sport fishing effort for the entire season was 3,332 angler-days. Estimated spawning escapement was 4,684 (SE = 165) Chinook salmon. In 2004, the inriver return to Ayakulik River was 24,830 Chinook salmon. Census statistics of sport fishery catch, harvest, and total effort include 405 Chinook harvested, 7,417 released and 1,423 days of directed Chinook salmon angler effort. Spawning escapement was 24,425 Chinook salmon. In 2005, the inriver return to Ayakulik River was 8,340 Chinook salmon. Anglers harvested an estimated 489 (SE = 176) Chinook salmon and released 7,545. Estimated sport fishing effort for the entire season was 2,515 angler-days. Estimated spawning escapement was 7,851 (SE = 176) Chinook salmon. In 2004, the estimated inriver return to Chignik River was 7,840 Chinook salmon. A total of 2,520 Chinook salmon were harvested in the commercial purse seine fishery in Chignik Lagoon. In 2005, the estimated inriver return to the Chignik River was 6,486 Chinook salmon. A total of 2,714 Chinook salmon were harvested in the commercial purse seine fishery in Chignik Lagoon.
Keywords: Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, escapement, Karluk River, Ayakulik River, Chignik River, age, length, sex composition, sport harvest, sport effort.