Inseason Alaska Commercial Salmon Summary
This summary provides management, harvest, and escapement information for the Alaska commercial salmon fishing season. This summary will be updated each Friday between mid-May and September. Please note, inseason harvest data published in this summary are preliminary and subject to change. For more information on the Blue Sheet, inseason summaries, and harvest timing charts, please see our Blue Sheet, Inseason Summary, and Harvest Timing Charts Overview page.
- Inseason Salmon Harvest (Blue Sheet)
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- Inseason Harvest Timing Charts
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- Commercial Advisory Announcments
Statewide Summary
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The 2026 commercial salmon harvest forecast is 56 million pink salmon, 49.7 million sockeye salmon, 17.2 million chum salmon, and 2.4 million coho salmon. If realized, the forecasted 2026 total Alaska commercial salmon harvest will be approximately 125.5 million fish.
Area-specific fishery announcements, harvest, and escapement data can be found on the Commercial Fisheries homepage.
Inseason fish counts are posted on the Fish Count Data Search homepage.
Inseason harvest timing can be tracked here: Inseason Commercial Salmon Harvest Timing
Southeast Alaska & Yakutat
Troll Fishery
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
Inseason Alaskan Salmon Summary, May 15, 2026:
This weekly summary reports management, harvest, and escapement information for the Alaska commercial salmon fishing season. Note that inseason harvest data published in this summary is preliminary and is subject to change.
Southeast/Yakutat Troll Salmon Fishery:
The Southeast Alaska/Yakutat (SEAK) commercial troll fishery primarily targets Chinook, coho, and chum salmon. For 2026, the Pacific Salmon Commission’s Chinook salmon model projected a preseason abundance index of 1.41, which provides a catch limit of 146,000 Chinook salmon for commercial troll gear. When compared to last year’s preseason AI of 1.1, trollers will be allowed to harvest an additional 53,200 Chinook salmon in 2026. Notwithstanding an increased preseason coastwide abundance forecast, SEAK salmon hatchery managers predict a 2026 total run of approximately 62,300 hatchery-produced Chinook salmon, which is a decrease when compared to an estimated 2025 preseason run forecast of approximately 83,200 fish and a recent 5-year average preseason forecast of 69,400 fish. Throughout the spring troll and terminal harvest area fisheries, SEAK trollers will target these Alaska hatchery-produced Chinook salmon.
While formal forecasting of wild coho salmon runs in SEAK are not available, considering the recent 10-year trend of reduced troll fleet size and resulting wild stock harvest rates, our best projection is that troll harvest numbers and wild stock harvest rates will remain close to the 5-year average in 2026. Hatchery managers in SEAK are predicting a total run of approximately 612,100 hatchery-produced coho salmon, which is a slight reduction as compared to both the estimated 2025 run of 635,000 hatchery-produced coho and the recent 5-year average run of 629,900 fish.
During the commercial troll summer season, which opens by regulation from July 1st through September 20th, hatchery-produced chum salmon are targeted by the SEAK troll fleet. For 2026, the aggregate hatchery-produced chum salmon run for SEAK of an estimated 10.3 million chum salmon is a decrease of approximately 4.8 million fish when compared to the 2025 preseason forecast and is below the recent 5-year average of forecasts of approximately 11.5 million fish.
The 2025-2026 winter troll fishery opened on October 11, 2025, and closed by emergency order on April 15, 2026, due to restrictions implemented under Southeast Alaska/Yakutat (SEAK) Chinook salmon action plans, as adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries in 2022 and 2025 to conserve wild SEAK and Transboundary River (TBR) Chinook salmon stocks.
A preliminary total of 19,455 winter season Chinook salmon were harvested by 216 permit holders. Average price reached a high of $10.95/lb for fish delivered in the week of March 15, while the average price for the season was $10.38/lb. The seasonal average weight of 9.5 lb was below the 2024-2025 fishery average (10.2 lb), and below 5-year average of 10.1 lb. The Alaska hatchery-produced Chinook salmon contribution of approximately 1,391 fish represented 7% of the total harvest, which was above the 2024-2025 (11%) and the 5-year (9%) seasonal averages.
In addition to conservation measures during the winter troll fishery, wild SEAK Chinook salmon action plans also provide direction to implement management measures during spring fisheries. These measures and supplementary emergency order actions restrict spring troll fisheries for conservation of SEAK and TBR Chinook salmon stocks by limiting fisheries to areas on the outer coast near hatcheries or hatchery release sites. A total of 7 spring troll areas targeting Alaska hatchery Chinook salmon have been opened to date, with an additional 6 spring troll areas and 10 terminal harvest areas (THA) to be opened in May and June. Opportunities to harvest Alaska hatchery chum salmon will be provided in 6 spring troll and 4 THAs in mid to late June.
A total of 56 troll permits have reported 723 Chinook salmon harvested from 99 spring troll landings through May 15 (Statistical Week 20). This is a decrease in effort of 10 permits from the number of permits fished in 2025 and 12 permits below the 5-year average, for the same fishing period. The 2026 cumulative spring Chinook salmon harvest remains below the 2025 and 5-year average by 26 and 598 fish, respectively. The current spring troll Chinook salmon seasonal average weight of 10.3 lb is below the 2025 and 5-year averages of 11.4 and 10.8 lb for the same period. The spring seasonal Chinook salmon average price per pound of $10.40 exceeds the 2025 and 5-year average price of $9.40 and $9.37.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
- Southeast Spring Troll webpage
- Southeast Summer Troll webpage
- Southeast Management Plans webpage
- Commercial Fishery Advisory Announcements
Purse Seine Fishery
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Regulations allow purse seine fishing in Districts 1 (Sections 1-C, 1-D, 1-E, and 1-F only), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (Sections 6-C, 6-D, and 6-E only), 7, 9, 10, 11 (Sections 11-A and 11-D only), 12, 13, and 14. Although the areas specified above are designated purse seine fishing areas, specific open areas and fishing times are established in season by emergency order (EO). Purse seine fishing may be allowed in hatchery terminal harvest areas (THA) at Carroll Inlet, Neets Bay, Kendrick Bay, Port Asumcion, Anita Bay, Thomas Bay, Southeast Cove, Hidden Falls, Deep Inlet, Crawfish Inlet, and Amalga Harbor. Purse seine openings in THAs are established by EO in consultation with hatchery operators.
Since statehood, 76% of the salmon harvested in Southeast Alaska (SEAK) commercial fisheries have been caught with purse seine gear. Pink salmon is the primary species targeted by the purse seine fleet; therefore, most management actions are based on the abundance of pink salmon stocks. Whereas openings targeting wild stocks do occur, chum salmon are primarily harvested in or near hatchery terminal areas and the majority of chum salmon harvest is from hatchery production. Other species of salmon are harvested incidentally to pink and chum salmon. Over the recent 10-year period (2016–2025), the species composition of the purse seine harvest has included 81% pink, 15% chum, 2% sockeye, 1% coho, and less than 1% Chinook salmon.
The 2026 Southeast Alaska pink salmon harvest is expected to be near average, with a harvest forecast of 19 million fish which falls at the lower end of the average pink salmon harvest range (=19 to 33 million). The 2026 harvest forecast is near the 2024 harvest (20 million), greater than the average harvest of the last 10 even years (18 million; 2006 to 2024), but less than the average even-year forecast from the same period (22 million).
The 2026 SEAK forecast of hatchery-produced summer chum salmon runs is 9.9 million fish. This forecast includes 3 million fish to 5 DIPAC locations, 2.7 million fish to 6 NSRAA locations, and 3.9 million fish to 6 SSRAA locations. A portion of these runs will be harvested in traditional purse seine and in terminal harvest area purse seine fisheries in Anita Bay, Southeast Cove, Thomas Bay, Hidden Falls, and Deep Inlet. Chum salmon harvests in regional purse seine fisheries have averaged 3.5 million fish over the last 10 years.
The 2026 pink salmon forecast indicates an average run throughout SEAK and a conservative fishing regime is expected. Hidden Falls THA will open for common property harvest to target hatchery-produced chum salmon in late June. The first pink salmon openings will begin in mid-June in District 12 and early July in Districts 1, 2, 4, and 7. Subsequent openings will be based on aerial observations and fishery performance data. The department will monitor inseason information and will manage the fishery to ensure escapement goals are met, obtain district and stock group escapement targets, and distribute escapements throughout the run while providing maximum fishing opportunity.
The size of the purse seine fleet will have some impact on management decisions as the season progresses. Purse seine effort has been relatively stable over the past 5 years after precipitous decline from 240 permits fished in 2019 to 200 permits fished in 2020. Since 2020, effort has varied between 197 permits fished in 2024 to 210 permits fished in 2023; the 2025 effort was 200 permits.
For detailed forecast information and expected management actions for the 2026 purse seine fisheries, please review the 2026 Southeast Alaska Salmon Purse Seine Fishery Management Plan located on the ADF&G Website at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.salmon_managementplans.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Drift Gillnet Fishery
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The 5 traditional drift gillnet fishing areas in SEAK are Tree Point and Portland Canal (District 1); Prince of Wales (District 6); Stikine (District 8); Taku/Snettisham (District 11); and Lynn Canal (District 15). In addition, drift gillnet fisheries occur in several terminal harvest areas (THA) adjacent to hatchery facilities and at remote release sites throughout the region. An average of 473 SEAK drift gillnet limited entry permits were issued annually, of which an average of 87% were actively fished each year. In 2025, 472 permits were issued, of which 319 (68%) were actively fished, tied (2024) for lowest effort in the fishery since limited entry. Drift gillnet harvests have averaged 3.98 million salmon annually over the recent 10-year period and averaged 3.1 million salmon annually since 1962 (1962–2024). In the last 10 years, the species composition of the drift gillnet harvest has been 67% chum, 20% pink, 8% sockeye, 5% coho, and <1% Chinook salmon. Of the total commercial salmon harvest in SEAK, the average drift gillnet fishery harvests have included 32% sockeye, 25% chum, 11% coho, 9% Chinook, and 4% pink salmon.
The drift gillnet fishery primarily targets sockeye, pink, and chum salmon during the summer season and coho and chum salmon during the fall season. Directed commercial fisheries harvesting Stikine and Taku Rivers stocks of Chinook salmon were resurrected in 2005 after ceasing in the 1970s. District 8 was opened to directed fisheries on Stikine River Chinook salmon from 2005 through 2008, and limited fisheries occurred in 2012 and 2016. In District 11, directed fisheries on Taku River Chinook salmon occurred in 2005, 2006, and 2009, and two 12-hour openings occurred in 2012. The 2026 Chinook salmon terminal run size forecast for the Taku River is within the escapement goal range (EGR) and allows for directed and assessment Chinook salmon fisheries in the U.S. and Canada; however, based on spawning escapement estimates being below the escapement goal range in 8 of the 10 most recent years, neither directed nor assessment Chinook salmon fisheries will occur. The 2026 Stikine River Chinook salmon preseason terminal run forecast is within the EGR, but management during the early portion of the sockeye salmon fishery will remain conservative as Chinook salmon escapement has not been achieved in 7 of the 10 most recent years.
The 2026 preseason total run forecast for Chilkat River Chinook salmon is 2,650 large fish. The forecast is above the recent average escapement of 2,000 fish and within the EGR of 1,750 to 3,500 fish. Restrictive management measures will again be implemented during early directed sockeye salmon fishery openings to reduce harvest rates of Chilkat River Chinook salmon. Details of the management strategy are in the Lynn Canal Fishery section of this plan.
The 2026 SEAK forecast for hatchery-produced Chinook salmon is 62,000 fish. This forecast includes estimated contributions from combined Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) facilities of 19,000 fish, estimated contributions of 35,000 fish from combined Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) facilities, and an estimated 8,000 fish from Douglas Island Pink and Chum (DIPAC). A portion of these runs will be harvested in traditional drift gillnet fisheries in Districts 1, 6, 8, 11, and 15, and THA drift gillnet fisheries in Carroll Inlet, Neets Bay, Anita Bay, and Deep Inlet.
For 2026, the preliminary forecast for the Nass River is for a total run of 507,000 sockeye salmon (Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans [DFO] forecast). The terminal run forecast for Stikine River sockeye salmon is 182,600 fish, above the average terminal run size of 111,000 fish. The Taku River wild sockeye salmon terminal run is expected to be 161,000 fish, below the average terminal run size of 177,000 fish. The Taku River enhanced sockeye salmon run is again expected to be minimal and near the average terminal run size of approximately 11,000 fish. Chilkat and Chilkoot Lakes sockeye salmon runs are expected to be average to above average. DIPAC forecasts a Snettisham Hatchery sockeye salmon run of 83,000 fish in 2026, below the average of 140,000 fish.
The 2026 SEAK forecast of hatchery-produced summer chum salmon runs is 9.9 million fish. This forecast includes 3 million fish to 5 DIPAC locations, 2.7 million fish to 6 NSRAA locations, and 3.9 million fish to 6 SSRAA locations. A portion of these runs will be harvested in traditional drift gillnet fisheries in Districts 1, 6, 8, 11, and 15, and in terminal harvest area drift gillnet fisheries in Boat Harbor, Deep Inlet, Anita Bay, and Nakat Inlet. Chum salmon harvests in regional drift gillnet fisheries have averaged 2.5 million fish over the last 10 years.
Excluding the Taku River coho salmon stock, forecasts are not typically made for wild coho salmon runs. The 2026 Taku River coho salmon terminal run forecast is 89,000 fish, just below the 91,000 fish average. General expectations for regional coho salmon runs are expected to be consistent with recent averages. Total hatchery-produced coho salmon run forecasts include 325,500 fish to SSRAA projects; 131,000 fish to NSRAA projects; 139,400 fish to Armstrong Keta Inc. (AKI), 8,000 fish to DIPAC projects, and 10,500 fish to the Sitka Sound Science Center. A portion of these runs will be harvested in traditional drift gillnet fisheries in Districts 1, 6, 8, 11, and 15, and in terminal harvest area drift gillnet fisheries in Anita Bay, Nakat Inlet, and Deep Inlet. Alaska hatchery coho salmon contributions to drift gillnet fisheries in 2025 were estimated at 45,300 fish, 43% of total drift gillnet coho salmon common harvests. The largest harvest was fish returning to Neets Bay with substantial harvest coming from Nakat Inlet, Anita Bay, and Macaulay hatchery releases.
The SEAK pink salmon harvest forecast for 2026 is 19 million fish, with an 80% prediction interval of 13 to 30 million fish. The majority of the pink salmon harvest for the region is typically taken by purse seine gear.
Weekly fishing periods in traditional fishing areas can generally be expected to begin on Sundays at 12:01 pm. Fishing periods in hatchery THAs, including NSRAA and SSRAA terminal fisheries in Deep Inlet, Southeast Cove, Anita Bay, and Carroll Inlet, will be in accordance with rotational harvest management plans for drift gillnet, seine, and troll fisheries adopted by the BOF. The 2026 traditional common property drift gillnet fishery will open June 21 in Districts 1, 11, and 15, June 14 in District 6, openings in District 8 will be determined by evaluations of run strength of Stikine River sockeye and Chinook salmon.
For detailed forecast information and expected management actions for the 2026 drift gillnet fisheries, please review the 2026 Southeast Alaska Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan located on the ADF&G Website at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.salmon_managementplans.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Tree Point/Section 1-B
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery will open by regulation at 12:01 p.m., on Sunday, June 21, for an initial 4-day fishing period. The length of subsequent fishing periods will be based on effort levels and the strength of wild stock sockeye and chum salmon runs to Alaska and Canada waters until the start of the Pink Salmon Management Plan on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The 2026 preseason forecast for the Nass River is 507,000 sockeye salmon, allowing the Section 1-B drift gillnet fishery to harvest approximately 42,400 sockeye salmon of Nass River origin.
The following information is about the Nakat Inlet, Neets Bay, Kendrick Bay and Carroll Inlet terminal harvest areas (THA). For further information and updates on SSRAA contributions and updates visit their website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Stikine and Prince of Wales/Districts 6 and 8
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
The 2026 Stikine River Chinook salmon forecast is for a terminal run of 16,700 large Chinook salmon. This forecast is above the lower end of the escapement goal range (EGR) of 14,000 to 28,000 fish, but below the management objective that allows for directed fisheries in District 8. As such, management actions may be in place at the start of the sockeye fishery for both districts to conserve Stikine Chinook salmon.
The 2026 preseason forecast for Stikine River sockeye salmon of 182,600 fish is well above average (111,400 fish) and includes 122,900 Tahltan Lake and 59,700 mainstem fish. This forecast is well above the Tahltan stock EGR of 11,000-25,000 sockeye and the mainstem EGR of 13,000-33,000 fish. Based on the 2026 preseason forecast, there is an allowable catch for the U.S. to prosecute fisheries directed at harvesting Stikine River sockeye salmon. Fishing periods in District 8, and to a lesser extent in District 6, will be determined initially by the preseason forecast, then by inseason abundance estimates of Stikine River sockeye salmon. Sockeye salmon run timing through District 8 typically peaks for the Tahltan Lake stock in SW 27 and for the mainstem stock in SWs 29 and 30. Sockeye salmon runs to other local area streams are expected to be average based on parent-year escapements. The sockeye salmon run to McDonald Lake is expected to be weak based on parent-year escapements. However, the run has achieved escapement goals for the past 3 seasons, and those runs were from years with poor parent-year escapements.
By regulation, both districts can open on the second Sunday of June. However, management actions that may be implemented include: delay the start of the District 8 drift gillnet fishery for at least 1 week; implement area restrictions in District 8 near the mouth of the Stikine River through SW 28; and a 6-inch maximum mesh restriction may be in place through SW 28 in District 6 and through SW 29 in District 8. If early inseason indicators suggest Chinook salmon abundance is below expectations, then District 8 may be delayed by 2 weeks and District 6 may be delayed by 1 week.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
The 2026 Taku Inlet–Port Snettisham (Section 11-B) drift gillnet fishery will open on Sunday, June 21, for an initial two-day fishing period. Area, time, and gear restrictions will depend on the abundance of Taku River Chinook salmon prior to the opening. Subsequent weekly openings will be determined inseason using data from Taku River stock assessment projects, fishery catch per unit effort (CPUE), and fishing effort. Through mid-August, management decisions will be based on wild sockeye salmon abundance, after which management will shift to wild coho salmon abundance.
The terminal run forecast for Taku River large Chinook salmon is 33,000 fish, which is within the escapement goal range of 19,000 to 36,000 large fish. However, due to low Chinook salmon forecasts across the region, and because Taku River Chinook salmon escapements have fallen below the escapement goal range in eight of the past ten years, fisheries managers will implement a conservative approach throughout Southeast Alaska to reduce the harvest of wild Chinook salmon. On the Taku River, a department stock assessment project is underway to capture and tag returning Chinook salmon as part of an inriver mark-recapture abundance estimate.
Terminal run forecasts for Taku River wild sockeye and coho salmon are below their recent 10-year averages, with expected returns of 161,000 and 89,000 fish, respectively. The preseason sockeye salmon forecast will be used in conjunction with management objectives to calculate the allowable catch (AC) until weekly inseason inriver run estimates become available. The enhanced sockeye salmon run from Tatsamenie and Trapper lakes is forecast to total 12,000 fish, resulting in a 77% U.S. and 23% Canada allocation split and providing the U.S. with an AC of approximately 79,000 fish. The preseason coho salmon forecast results in a U.S. AC of 10,000 fish.
Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. (DIPAC) projects hatchery-produced returns of 83,000 sockeye salmon to Snettisham Hatchery and Sweetheart Lake, 8,000 coho salmon to Gastineau Channel, and 1.1 million summer chum salmon to Gastineau Channel and Limestone Inlet. Hatchery-produced summer chum salmon are expected to contribute approximately 659,000 fish to the common property fishery. The Taku River fall chum salmon run is expected to be minimal. Pink salmon runs in Stephens Passage and the Taku River are expected to be below average.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Lynn Canal/District 15
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The Lynn Canal (District 15) commercial drift gillnet fishery is scheduled to open for a 2-day period beginning Sunday, June 21 (SW 26). Management will follow the Lynn Canal and Chilkat River King Salmon Fishery Management Plan and continue the conservative strategies used in recent years to reduce harvest rates on vulnerable Chilkat River Chinook salmon stocks and support sustainable escapements.
Early-season restrictions are expected during the directed sockeye salmon fishery and will include reduced fishing time and area, a 6-inch maximum mesh size restriction, and districtwide night closures from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. in support of Chilkat River Chinook salmon conservation efforts. Restrictions are expected during the first several weeks of the fishery in Section 15-A and during the first couple weeks in Section 15-C.
The 2026 Chilkat River Chinook salmon preseason total run forecast is 2,650 large fish (age-5 and older), slightly below the 2025 forecast and within the escapement goal range of 1,750–3,500 fish.
Most sockeye salmon harvested in District 15 originate from wild runs to Chilkat and Chilkoot lakes. Parent-year escapements contributing to the 2026 Chilkat Lake sockeye run were 51,000 fish in 2020 and 65,000 fish in 2021, both below the biological escapement goal (BEG) range of 70,000–150,000 fish, indicating a below-average run projection for 2026. In contrast, the 2021 escapement to Chilkoot Lake was approximately 99,000 fish, exceeding the BEG range of 38,000–86,000 fish and suggesting an average run in 2026.
Hatchery-origin summer chum salmon returning to the Boat Harbor Terminal Harvest Area (THA) contribute substantially to the District 15 drift gillnet harvest. The Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. (DIPAC) forecast projects a total summer chum salmon run of 1.4 to 2.8 million fish returning to Boat and Amalga harbors, above the recent 10-year average. Approximately 1.1 million chum salmon are expected to be available for common property harvest in Lynn Canal. The Boat Harbor THA will open on June 21, and outside waters will be managed conservatively during the early part of the season to minimize harvest of Chilkat River Chinook salmon. Inside waters will be open continuously with no restrictions.
The Chilkat River, followed by the Berners River, are the primary contributors of coho salmon to the District 15 drift gillnet harvest. Parent-year escapements contributing to the 2026 Chilkat River coho salmon run were 71,000 fish in 2023 and 59,000 fish in 2024, which were above and within the escapement goal range of 30,000–70,000 fish, indicating an above-average run projection for 2026.
Similarly, parent-year escapements contributing to the 2026 Berners River coho salmon run were 8,000 fish in 2023 and 10,000 fish in 2024, which were within and above the escapement goal range of 3,600–8,100 fish. Based on these escapement levels, the 2026 Berners River coho salmon run is also expected to be above average.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Yakutat Area Set Gillnet Fishery
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
The Yakutat set gillnet fisheries will open in June, with openings for the various systems being staggered according to run timing and regulation. The SEAK, Transboundary Rivers Chinook salmon stocks are experiencing poor production; record low runs were observed for many of these stocks in 2025 and 2026 forecasts indicate continued poor levels of production in 2026. In an effort to bolster spawning escapements, Alaska and Canada are coordinating fisheries management per treaty obligations to minimize harvest of depressed Chinook salmon and sockeye salmon stocks. Management actions to conserve Alsek River Chinook salmon stocks will be observing harvest during the early part of the season and adjusting fishing time as needed to reduce harvest. Management actions for sockeye salmon conservation will be based on fishery performance. The first opener will occur on June 7th and gillnet mesh restrictions throughout the Chinook salmon run. Yakutat Bay and the Dangerous River will open on the second Sunday in June (June 14). The Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet and the Manby Shore fisheries will open on the third Sunday in June (June 21). The remainder of the Yakutat District will open on the fourth Sunday in June (June 28). The East River, Akwe River and the Italio River systems will open by emergency order when adequate levels of escapement have been observed.
Sockeye salmon returns to the Yakutat Area in 2026 are expected to be average to above average. The 2026 preseason projection of a total return of 900 large Chinook salmon to the Situk River. Due to the uncertainty in recent forecasts and environmental variables any harvest of this stock could result in the escapement goal not being achieved. The subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries will be closed for Situk River Chinook salmon. These fisheries will reopen when Situk River weir counts indicate the BEG will be attained. The coho salmon return this year is also expected to be average to above average.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Terminal Harvest Area (THA) Fisheries
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Terminal Harvest Area (THA) drift gillnet fisheries can occur in Nakat Inlet, Carroll Inlet, Anita Bay, Southeast Cove, Deep Inlet, and Boat Harbor. THA seine fisheries can occur in Carroll Inlet, Neets Bay, Kendrick Bay, Anita Bay, Thomas Bay, Southeast Cove, Hidden Falls, Crawfish Inlet, and Deep Inlet.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Nakat Inlet THA
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
For 2026, SSRAA is forecasting total hatchery runs of 494,000 summer chum, 29,700 coho, and 20,000 fall chum salmon with anticipated terminal runs of 220,000 summer chum, 7,400 coho, and 9,000 fall chum salmon to the Nakat Inlet THA. Peak chum salmon harvests from these releases are expected between mid- to late July for summer chum and between late August to mid-September for fall chum and coho salmon.
The Nakat Inlet THA opens by regulation (5 AAC 33.372) from June 1 through November 10 concurrently to drift gillnet and troll gear. The 500-yard stream closure regulation (5 AAC 39.290) will remain in effect.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Neets Bay THA
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
In 2026, SSRAA is forecasting total runs of 1,375,000 summer chum and 95,500 coho salmon with anticipated terminal runs of 894,000 summer chum and 38,200 coho salmon for the Neets Bay THA.
The Neets Bay THA is not scheduled to open for rotational net fisheries in 2026. Details of the 2026 season fishing schedule and area for the Neets Bay THA were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 15. Common property fisheries, if warranted, will be announced by advisory announcement, and opened by EO in consultation with SSRAA.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Kendrick Bay THA
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
For 2026, SSRAA is expecting a total run of 810,000 summer chum salmon with an anticipated terminal run of 358,000 summer chum salmon for the Kendrick Bay THA. Due to budgetary shortfalls and the need for additional cost recovery, the Kendrick Bay THA will not open by regulation on June 15. The Kendrick Bay THA will remain closed to common property harvest until approximately 1.5 million pounds of chum salmon are harvested for cost recovery. Details of the 2026 fishing schedule for the Kendrick Bay THA were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 17.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Carroll Inlet THA
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
For 2026, SSRAA has forecasted a total run of 6,100 Carroll Inlet Chinook salmon with an anticipated terminal run of 4,400 Chinook. By regulation, Carroll Inlet THA will be open June 1 through June 30 to provide harvest for hatchery-produced Chinook salmon. For net gear, the Carroll Inlet THA will open in waters of Carroll Inlet north of the latitude of 55°34.83' N lat, approximately 1.3 nmi north of Nigelius Point at 5:00 a.m., Monday, June 1, 2026. Beginning 12:01 a.m., Monday, June 8, the entire THA will open to drift gillnet and purse seine gear concurrently through 12:00 noon, Thursday, June 11. Rotational net fisheries will begin at 12:00 noon, Monday, June 15, through 12:00 noon, Tuesday, June 30. The 500-yard stream closure (5 AAC 39.290) will not be in effect in the Carroll Inlet THA.
Details of the 2026 season fishing schedule and area for the Carroll Inlet THA were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 17.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Anita Bay THA
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
For 2026, SSRAA is forecasting total runs of 397,000 summer chum, 6,800 Chinook, and 14,700 coho salmon to the Anita Bay release site. It is anticipated that 148,000 summer chum, 6,100 Chinook, and 6,600 coho salmon will be available for common property harvest in the Anita Bay THA. Details of the 2026 Anita Bay THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 14.
The Anita Bay THA will be open continuously to harvest salmon with troll gear from 12:01 am, Monday, June 1, through 11:59 pm, Tuesday, November 10. The Anita Bay THA will be open to harvest salmon with drift gillnet and purse seine gear concurrently from 5:00 am, Monday, June 1, through 12:00 noon, Friday, June 12. From 12:00 noon, Saturday, June 13, through 12:00 noon, Monday, August 31, it will be open for drift gillnet and purse seine gear on a rotational basis. From 12:01 am, Tuesday, September 1, through 11:59 pm, Tuesday, November 10, the Anita Bay THA will return to concurrent fishing for both drift gillnet and purse seine gear. The Anita Bay THA will close for the season at 11:59 pm, Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
Deep Inlet THA
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
NSRAA expects runs of 1,762,000 chum, 13,900 Chinook, and 37,000 coho salmon for the Deep Inlet remote release site and the Medvejie Hatchery in 2026. This season, NSRAA anticipates cost-recovery operations in the Deep Inlet THA; thus, the entire THA will be closed to all common property commercial fisheries to aid cost-recovery harvest beginning June 28 and will remain closed until cost-recovery operations are complete. Most of the common property harvest can be expected to take place in the Deep Inlet THA by drift gillnet and purse seine gear, but some harvest is likely to occur outside the THA by troll and purse seine gear as well.
The Deep Inlet THA fishery will be managed in accordance with the District 13: Deep Inlet Terminal Harvest Area Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 33.376). The plan provides for harvest distribution of hatchery-produced salmon between the purse seine and drift gillnet fleets. During its March 2022 meeting, the BOF passed a regulation that set the time ratio for drift gillnet openings to purse seine openings at 1:1.
During the 2026 Deep Inlet THA season, purse seine fishing is scheduled to be open on Sunday, Thursday, and Friday. Drift gillnet fishing is scheduled to be open on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The troll fishery will be open on Saturday each week, or when net fisheries are closed. The Deep Inlet THA west of 135°20.75' W long will be closed to drift gillnet and purse seine gear from June 1 through June 20. Details of the 2026 Deep Inlet THA fishing schedule are included in an ADF&G advisory announcement published April 20. If changes are necessary, the revised fishing schedule will be issued in a subsequent advisory announcement.
During the 2026 season, the boundaries of the Deep Inlet THA may be changed by NSRAA and ADF&G to help resolve conflicts between fishers and local private landowners in the area if conflicts occur. Conflicts can be avoided by reducing boat wakes in areas near private docks, by reducing excessive noise and lights prior to openings, and by anchoring well away from private residences.
By EO issued under 5 AAC 39.265, harvesters participating in purse seine and drift gillnet fisheries in the Deep Inlet THA are required to retain and utilize all salmon harvested. This action is being taken in order to promote full utilization of salmon, to prevent waste of salmon, to determine harvest patterns of incidentally harvested coho and sockeye salmon, and to enable the department and NSRAA to have full and accurate reporting of runs. All salmon retained for personal use and not sold must be reported on fish tickets. Fishers are advised that if they have fish on board from other areas, they should keep them separate for reporting and sampling purposes.
In early September, the Deep Inlet THA boundaries may be adjusted by ADF&G to reduce harvest of wild coho salmon returning to Salmon Lake or hatchery coho salmon returning to Medvejie Hatchery needed for broodstock. THA boundary adjustments to protect coho salmon will be based on historical run timing and inseason observations of abundance.
For inseason updates go to the NSRAA website at http://www.nsraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Hidden Falls THA
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The Hidden Falls Hatchery, operated by NSRAA, expects a run of 409,000 chum salmon. NSRAA needs 186,000 chum salmon for broodstock. NSRAA intends to use a tax assessment on any potential common property harvest of chum salmon to satisfy cost-recovery needs as provided under AS 16.10.455. The tax assessment will be in effect for any common property purse seine openings occurring within the Hidden Falls THA and in statistical areas 112-11 and 112-21 (Kelp Bay and the Catherine Island shoreline) from June 15 through July 31.
Common property purse seine openings at Hidden Falls in 2026 will occur on Sundays and Thursdays beginning Sunday, June 21 and continuing through August 8. A contraction of the offshore boundary of the Hidden Falls THA to within 1.0 nmi off the Baranof Island shoreline is likely for a portion of the 2026 season to conserve weak Chinook and pink salmon runs destined for systems farther inland.
The Hidden Falls Hatchery Terminal Harvest Area Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 33.374) provides guidelines for allocation of hatchery-produced chum and Chinook salmon in the Hidden Falls THA. The management plan describes several approaches to achieve broodstock and cost- recovery goals through June 30. Purse seine openings will be limited to a maximum of 2 fishing days per week in the terminal harvest area in order to harvest surplus chum salmon. If Sunday and midweek seine openings have not occurred and further action is needed to achieve broodstock and cost-recovery goals, the troll fishery will be closed to the retention of chum salmon inside the THA as long as at least 7 days remain until July 1. Beginning July 1, areas within the THA may be closed to protect chum or Chinook salmon broodstock and trollers may only retain chum salmon in numbers not exceeding the total number of Chinook salmon on board.
For inseason updates go to the NSRAA website at http://www.nsraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Crawfish Inlet THA
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The District 13: Crawfish Inlet Terminal Harvest Area Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 33.380) states that the department, in consultation with NSRAA, shall, by EO, open and close the Crawfish Inlet THA to provide for the harvest of hatchery-produced Chinook and chum salmon by purse seine, drift gillnet, and troll gear. The runs of Chinook and chum salmon to Crawfish Inlet are managed with a troll priority. There are no scheduled purse seine openings for the Crawfish Inlet THA in 2026.
NSRAA expects a run of 281,000 chum and 500 Chinook salmon for the Crawfish Inlet remote release site. NSRAA plans on conducting a cost-recovery fishery this season in Crawfish Inlet. The number of chum salmon available for common property harvest will depend entirely on the progress of the cost-recovery fishery. No chum salmon are expected to be needed for broodstock in Crawfish Inlet.
For inseason updates go to the NSRAA website at http://www.nsraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Thomas Bay THA
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
NSRAA is forecasting a total run of 115,000 chum salmon for the Thomas Bay THA. A portion of the run will be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound. No cost recovery is planned in 2026. The Thomas Bay THA will be open to common property purse seine and troll fisheries from Sunday, June 21, through Saturday, August 8, 2026. Purse seine openings will occur on Sundays and Thursdays, and troll openings will occur on days closed to purse seining.
Further details of the 2026 Thomas Bay THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 10.
For inseason updates go to the NSRAA website at http://www.nsraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Southeast Cove THA
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
The Southeast Cove THA will be managed in accordance with the District 9: Southeast Cove Terminal Harvest Area Management Plan (5 AAC 33.387). In 2026, NSRAA is forecasting a run of 105,000 summer chum and 860 Chinook salmon for the Southeast Cove THA. In 2026, it is anticipated that the Southeast Cove THA will be cost recovery only and common property purse seine opportunity will not be provided. However, if significant numbers of fish remain after cost recovery operations are completed, common property opportunity may be provided via EO, dependent on the presence of wild salmon stocks in the area. If closures or openings are warranted, they will be announced by advisory announcement.
Further details of the 2026 Southeast Cove THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 15.
For inseason updates go to the NSRAA website at http://www.nsraa.org/.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.
Port Ascumsion THA
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
For 2026, SSRAA has forecasted a total run of 354,000 summer chum salmon with an anticipated terminal run of 248,000 summer chum salmon. The Port Asumcion summer chum return is intercepted in District 3 and 4 fisheries, and terminal harvest in this area is primarily designated for cost recovery. The Port Asumcion THA is not scheduled to open to common property terminal harvest during the 2026 season. If cost recovery is secured and a fishery is warranted, it will be announced by advisory announcement and opened by emergency order in consultation with SSRAA.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
Burnett Inlet THA
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
The Burnett Inlet Terminal Harvest Area (THA) commercial salmon troll fishery will open for the harvest of chum, coho, sockeye, and pink salmon from 12:01 a.m., Saturday, June 27, 2026, until closed by emergency order. The Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association is forecasting a total return of approximately 426,000 hatchery-produced summer chum salmon and 11,600 hatchery-produced fall chum salmon to the Burnett Inlet THA.
Further details of the 2026 Burnett Inlet THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 15.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
Speel Arm THA
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
The 2026 total run forecast for Snettisham Hatchery sockeye salmon is 83,000 fish, below the 144,000 fish average. These fish will be principally harvested in the traditional District 11 commercial drift gillnet fishery. Common property fishery openings may occur during August in the Speel Arm THA (waters of Speel Arm north of Sharp Point). Timing of openings in the THA will depend on sockeye salmon escapement into Speel Lake and DIPAC’s progress toward broodstock goals. DIPAC cost-recovery efforts in the special harvest area during July will be limited to waters in the immediate vicinity of the hatchery where wild and hatchery stocks are well segregated. Fishery management decisions for the Speel Arm THA will be made in consultation with DIPAC.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
Amalga Harbor THA
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Common property purse seine opportunities in the Amalga Harbor THA will be based on run strength of hatchery-produced chum salmon, progress toward DIPAC cost-recovery goals, expected effort levels, and considerations for nontarget species. Openings may occur in Section 11-A and will be limited to a portion of the Amalga Harbor THA, Subdistrict 111-55. These openings may occur in July, will only be on Thursdays, and will be limited to 9 hours (9:00 am–6:00 pm). If there are conservation concerns for non-target species in nearby systems, the open area or time may be reduced. Details of the open area and times will be included in the normal purse seine advisory announcement at the appropriate time.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
Boat Harbor THA
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
The Boat Harbor THA fishery will open by regulation on June 21 (SW 26) to provide opportunity to harvest DIPAC’s hatchery-produced chum salmon. Management of the THA is managed in accordance with the District 15: Boat Harbor Terminal Harvest Area Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 33.386).
DIPAC forecasted a total chum salmon run of 1.9 million fish to its release sites at Boat Harbor and Amalga Harbor. Of this total, approximately 1.1 million chum salmon are expected to be available for common property harvest in the Lynn Canal (District 15) commercial gillnet fishery. This forecast is slightly above the recent 10-year average.
In 2026, management actions in the Boat Harbor THA are expected to follow recent years’ approach, with early-season conservative measures aimed at reducing harvest of Chilkat River Chinook salmon in the outside waters of the THA. Initial openings are anticipated to be limited to two days per week, with fishing restricted to within 1 nautical mile of the shoreline during the first two weeks of the season. Night closures from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM, and a 6-inch maximum mesh size restriction may also be in effect during the first 4 weeks of the season. Subsequent openings will depend on inseason abundance of wild sockeye salmon returning to Chilkat and Chilkoot rivers.
Inside waters of the Boat Harbor THA—defined as those waters west of 135°09.57' W long—will also open June 21, and will remain open continuously, 7 days per week, without restrictions.
For inseason updates go to the SSRAA website at http://www.ssraa.org/.
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Central Region
Bristol Bay
Inseason Harvest Information
- 2026 Bristol Bay Salmon Fisheries Outlook (PDF 290 kB)
- 2026 Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon Forecast (PDF 282 kB)
- Bristol Bay Daily Run Summary
- Bristol Bay Inseason Harvest Summary
- Bristol Bay Salmon Escapement
- Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute (BBSRI) — Port Moller Test Fishery
Bristol Bay Fisheries Collaborative (BBFC)
Togiak District
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
TOGIAK DISTRICT
The 2026 inshore run of Togiak River sockeye salmon is forecast to be approximately 530,000 fish with a potential surplus of 370,000 fish. The escapement goal range is 120,000 to 270,000 sockeye salmon. Approximately 72% are expected to be age 1.3; 26% of the run is expected to be age 1.2; <1% of the run is expected to be ages 2.2 and 2.3.
The Togiak District follows a regular weekly schedule that allows fishing in the Togiak Bay Section four days per week and fishing in the Matogak, Osviak, and Cape Peirce Sections five days per week. The Board changed the Togiak District regulations to allow for the Kulukak Section to be opened by emergency order only for up to 96 hours per week. The department will work with stakeholders to decide on opening times and duration. Permit holders should listen at regular announcement times throughout the season.
Following the registration and reregistration regulations, permit holders are restricted from fishing in the Togiak District until the mid-point of the Togiak River escapement goal has been achieved, as announced by the department, if they have fished in any other district in Bristol Bay. Conversely, permit holders who have fished in the Togiak District are restricted from fishing in any other district until the department announces that the mid-point of the Togiak River escapement goal has been achieved. Regulation 5 AAC 06.370 requires vessel transfers to be restricted in Togiak District similarly to the restriction of permit transfers. Regulation also prevents drift gillnet fishing effort near the Togiak River mouth through July 15 and restricts mesh size to 5.5 inches or smaller between June 15 and July 15 for the conservation of king salmon.
The 2026 forecast is relatively poor for the Togiak District. A poor age-1.2 return in 2025 is the main indicator for a poor age-1.3 return for 2026. Based on the forecast it is less likely that escapement in the Togiak River will reach the threshold that allows Togiak District to open to boats/permits that fished in other districts. It is also likely that fish size may be smaller than usual.
Nushagak District
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
NUSHAGAK DISTRICT
The Nushagak District sockeye salmon inshore run forecast is approximately 18.4 million fish: 4.5 million for escapement with a potential surplus of 13.9 million. The total inshore run by river system is as follows: Wood River, 6.4 million (escapement goal range 700,000 to 2.8 million), Igushik River, 890,000 (escapement goal range 150,000 to 400,000), and Nushagak River, 11.1 million (escapement goal range of 370,000 to 2.6 million). Approximately 62% of the forecasted run is expected to be age-1.3 sockeye salmon, followed by 35% age 1.2, 2% age 2.2, and 1% age-2.3 fish.
There are three triggers that guide when to start fishing under the Nushagak District King Salmon Stock of Concern Management Plan regulations. Commercial fishing with drift gillnets in the Nushagak District and set gillnets in the Nushagak Section may begin once any one of the following triggers is met:
• The Nushagak River trigger is 8% of the total preseason forecast. In 2026, that is 911,000 sockeye salmon projected past the sonar. The trigger percent for the Nushagak River increased from 6% to 8% by Board action at the January meeting.
• The Wood River trigger is 12% of the total preseason forecast. In 2026, that is 793,000 sockeye salmon projected past the counting tower. The trigger percent for the Wood River increased from 10% to 12% by Board action at the January meeting.
• If neither of the above conditions are met by 9:00 a.m. June 28, then fishing may be allowed in the Nushagak District.
In addition to the triggers that regulate the start of fishing, the Plan includes Optimal Escapement Goals (OEGs) larger than department Sustainable Escapement Goals (SEGs) that reduce opportunity after commercial fishing starts. Those OEGs are structured such that 15% of the preseason forecast is added to the upper end of each SEG range. Lower bounds of both SEGs remain unchanged.
• The 2026 upper bound of the Wood River OEG is 2.8 million sockeye salmon.
• The 2026 upper bound of the Nushagak River OEG is 2.6 million sockeye salmon.
The 2026 fishery will start with directed sockeye salmon openings after one or more triggers have been met. From that point on, the department will make tide-by-tide decisions to prioritize king salmon escapement balanced with sockeye salmon fishing opportunity. Set gillnet fishermen in the Nushagak Section should expect to have regular closures into the second week of July. Breaks in drift gillnet openings will be timed to allow king and chum salmon to pass through the district. Drift gillnet management may start at or after high tide and may include drift gillnet openings as short as 3 hours. Allocation will also be considered when setting drift gillnet openings. With the poor Igushik River sockeye salmon forecast, there may be Nushagak Section only drift gillnet openings. Fishermen are asked to avoid areas where they may catch higher numbers of king and chum salmon. As stated above, all king salmon caught must be retained on the vessel and either sold or donated at the time of delivery.
Nushagak Section fishing periods will be scheduled based on king and sockeye salmon escapement levels in the Nushagak River and sockeye salmon escapement in the Wood River. Mesh size will be limited to 5.5 inches or smaller beginning June 1 for the conservation of king salmon. If the run comes in as forecast, it is likely that the Wood River Special Harvest Area will be used in 2026 to harvest surplus sockeye salmon in the Wood River. In this case, fishing opportunity will be afforded to the gear type that is behind on harvest percentage relative to the allocation.
Igushik River sockeye salmon will be managed independently of the Nushagak and Wood River sockeye salmon stocks. Set gillnet fishing will begin in the Igushik Section when there is a market available, likely mid-June. Initial openings will be 15 hours per day, and additional time will be added if large harvests or escapement information indicate more time is warranted. There is a very low forecast for Igushik River sockeye salmon in 2026. This may result in Nushagak Section only drift gillnet openings and less set gillnet fishing time in the Igushik Section.
The department will switch to coho salmon management in the Nushagak District around July 23, when sockeye salmon harvest decreases. Nushagak sonar counts will cease approximately July 25; after that, management decisions will be based on the level of effort, catch per unit effort, and sport and subsistence reports.
Naknek-Kvichak District
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
An inshore run of approximately 11.0 million sockeye salmon is expected for the Naknek-Kvichak District in 2026. Based on the forecast and escapement goals, the projected surplus in the Naknek-Kvichak District is approximately 6.2 million sockeye salmon: 1.9 million from the Kvichak River, 1.5 million from the Alagnak River, and 2.8 million from the Naknek River. Sockeye salmon returning to the Naknek-Kvichak District are predicted to be 42% age-1.3, 37% age-1.2, 14% age-2.2, and 7% age-2.3 fish.
The Naknek River escapement goal range is 800,000 to 2.0 million sockeye salmon. The Kvichak River escapement goal range is 2.0 million to 10.0 million sockeye salmon. The Alagnak River escapement goal is a minimum of 210,000 sockeye salmon. The Kvichak River forecast is large enough for the season to open in the Naknek-Kvichak District, however if inseason run indicators suggest a smaller run than forecast for the Kvichak River, there is potential for the fishery to move into the Naknek River Special Harvest Area (NRSHA). The department would make an announcement at least 48 hours prior, if this action is required.
Fishing in the Naknek-Kvichak District will be open four days per week from 9:00 a.m. Monday to 9:00 a.m. Friday, beginning 9:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, and ending 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 24. Drift gillnet gear will be restricted to fishing in the Naknek Section only, while set gillnet gear will be allowed to fish in the entire Naknek-Kvichak District. From June 24 until July 17, fishing periods will be based on sockeye salmon escapements, abundance in the district, and gear group harvest percentages. As in previous years, some openings may occur on short notice.
Egegik District
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The 2026 Egegik River inshore run is forecast to be approximately 8.9 million sockeye salmon. With an escapement goal of 800,000 to 2.0 million fish, the potential surplus is 7.5 million (Table 1). Approximately 31% of the run is expected to be age-2.2 fish, followed by age-1.2 (29%), age-2.3 (28%), and age-1.3 (12%).
The season will start with a three-day-per-week schedule to provide for king salmon escapement. Commercial fishing will be allowed in the Egegik District from 9:00 a.m. Monday, until 9:00 a.m. Wednesday and from 9:00 a.m. Thursday until 9:00 a.m. Friday. This schedule will begin at 9:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, and run through 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 17. Additional fishing time for both gear groups after June 17 will be scheduled according to sockeye salmon run strength. As in previous years, some openings may occur on short notice. Separate gear openings and variable length commercial periods will be used to achieve gear group allocations.
If inseason run indicators suggest a smaller run than forecast in the Kvichak River, there is potential for the boundary to be moved into the Egegik Special Harvest Area (ESHA). The department would make an announcement at least 48 hours prior, if this action is required.
Ugashik District
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The 2026 forecasted inshore run of sockeye salmon to Ugashik River is 5.2 million fish. With an escapement goal of 500,000 to 1.4 million sockeye salmon, the potential surplus is 4.3 million. Approximately 45% of the run is expected to be age-1.2, followed by age-1.3 (41%), age-2.2 (9%), and age-2.3 (5%).
Commercial fishing in the Ugashik District will be allowed from 9:00 a.m. Monday to 9:00 a.m. Friday beginning 9:00 a.m. Monday, June 1 through 9:00 a.m. Friday, June 19, and from 9:00 a.m. Monday, June 22, through 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 24. Additional fishing time after June 24 will depend on fishery performance and run strength indicators. Separate gear openings and adjusting length of commercial periods will be used to achieve gear group allocations in 2026. Permit holders should note that the regulation restricting opportunity to no more than 48 hours between June 16 and June 23 will not be in effect for 2026.
As a reminder, Registration Area T permit holders may fish in the inner portion of the Cinder River Section (river and lagoon) and the Inner Port Heiden Section during all months when open by regulation. For further information, contact ADF&G in Port Moller at 907-375-2716. Registration Area T permit holders who fish the Cinder River and Port Heiden sections and deliver their catch in the Ugashik District are reminded to report the section of catch on the appropriate fish tickets and note that transporting fish from the sections mentioned above to deliver in the Ugashik District is not permitted in July.
Copper River and PWS Drift Gillnet
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
Copper River District
The Copper River District commercial salmon drift gillnet fishery will open at 7:00 am, Friday, May 22, for a 12-hour fishing period. The 2026 Copper River District sockeye salmon commercial harvest forecast is 728,000 fish, and the coho salmon commercial harvest 10-year average (2016–2025) is 184,000. The Copper River Chinook salmon total run forecast (33,000 fish) is 27% below the 10-year (2016–2025) average (45,000 fish). The 2026 sockeye salmon harvest forecast is on par with the 10-year (2016–2025) average of 733,000 fish. Based on recent poor Chinook salmon production, a conservative management approach will be implemented at the start of the season.
The existing large-fish sonar apportionment program at Miles Lake will be the primary in-season tool for monitoring Chinook salmon abundance to guide management decisions this season. This is the same large fish measurement process that has been refined and used since 2018. The continued transition from mark–recapture to Miles Lake sonar apportionment represents a shift to a more reliable, timelier, and more management-relevant assessment system for inseason management.
Bering River District
The recent 10-year average (2016–2025) commercial harvests for the Bering River District are 11,800 sockeye and 54,400 coho salmon. A broader Bering River District opening is expected only after sockeye salmon escapement is tracking to achieve the Bering River District SEG. Beginning in early August, the Bering River District will be managed for coho salmon, and management strategies will be like those used for the Copper River District.
Eshamy District
The 2026 sockeye salmon run to Main Bay Hatchery (MBH) is forecast to be 431,000 fish. PWSAC anticipates utilizing 142,000 (33%) sockeye salmon for cost recovery and broodstock, leaving 289,000 (67%) fish available for harvest. The management strategy in 2026 will be to provide two periods per week in the Eshamy District when possible. Extended closures and/or short-duration periods may be necessary due to anticipated MBH cost recovery and broodstock needs representing almost a third of the total run. Fishing time in the Crafton Island Subdistrict may be adjusted based on the Coghill River wild sockeye salmon escapement. Eshamy District is expected to open for the 2026 season on Monday, June 1. Beginning in early to mid-July, fishing time and area in Crafton Island Subdistrict will be driven by the harvest of wild pink and sockeye salmon in Eshamy District and the strength of wild pink and chum salmon escapement in the Eshamy, Northwestern, Coghill, and Northern districts.
Coghill District
The 2026 Coghill Lake sockeye salmon total run forecast is 104,000 fish with an SEG of 20,000–75,000 fish. This is 53% below the 10-year (2016–2025) average of 223,000 fish. The chum salmon run to Wally Noerenberg Hatchery (WNH) is forecast to be 1.87 million fish. PWSAC anticipates utilizing 1.09 million (58%) chum salmon for cost recovery and broodstock, leaving 785,000 (42%) fish available for harvest. Coghill District is expected to open for the 2025 season on Monday, June 1. The management strategy in 2026 will be to provide two periods per week in the Coghill District. WNH cost recovery and broodstock needs may necessitate extended closures of hatchery subdistricts. Based on the weak Coghill Lake sockeye salmon forecast, a reduced schedule of 36-to-48-hour periods are likely in north Port Wells and College Fiord waters. Hatchery cost recovery and broodstock needs will be regularly evaluated and management adjusted to the extent practicable.
Unakwik District
The wild stock sockeye salmon commercial harvest 10-year (2016–2025) average in Unakwik Inlet is 7,500 fish. During the sockeye salmon runs to Miners and Cowpen lakes, the management strategy will be to provide two periods per week concurrently with openings in the Coghill and Eshamy districts. Unakwik District is expected to open for the 2026 season on Monday, June 15.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Prince William Sound and Copper River Management Area.
Prince William Sound Purse Seine
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
The 2026 pink salmon total run forecast for PWS is 21.31 million fish, with a potential commercial harvest of 14.03 million fish. This pink salmon total run forecast includes 4.73 million wild stock fish, 10.18 million Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) fish, and 6.40 million PWSAC hatchery fish. This ranks as one of lowest forecasts for hatchery returns in recent history. The department will manage for each district’s aerial index escapement goal for a cumulative SEG of 575,000–992,000 pink salmon.
The 2026 chum salmon forecast is 3.62 million fish. Most fish, 3.04 million (84%), are from PWSAC hatchery production, with 330,000 fish returning to the Armin F. Koernig hatchery (AFK), and 840,000 fish returning to Port Chalmers. Based on the department’s wild chum salmon forecast of 586,000 fish and subtracting the 10-year average escapement, 173,000, there is a potential harvestable surplus of 413,000 wild chum salmon.
The PWS purse seine fishery will begin on Monday, June 1 targeting the enhanced chum salmon runs to the AFK hatchery and Port Chalmers remote release site. Both Port Chalmers and the AFK hatchery will begin the season on a concurrent schedule of three fishing periods per week. A reduction in time and/or area will be implemented, if necessary, to limit the harvest of salmon bound for other areas of PWS. Port Chalmers will transition in late July to fishing periods opened based on the strength of wild pink salmon stocks returning to the Montague District. Also, in late July, AFK will transition to pink salmon management; purse seine fishing opportunity in the Southwestern District will be based on PWSAC cost recovery, broodstock needs, and wild-stock escapement performance.
The general waters of the eight purse seine districts will be managed based on the strength of wild stocks. Hatchery subdistricts will be managed based on the strength of both wild and enhanced stocks. Pink and chum salmon escapement trends and fishery performance data will be evaluated inseason and compared to average historical performance to determine the frequency and duration of openings.
View full details in the Prince William Sound 2026 Outlook.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Prince William Sound and Copper River Management Area.
Upper Cook Inlet
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
In 2026, a run of approximately 7.6 million sockeye salmon is forecast to return to Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) with an estimate of 5.6 million available for harvest (commercial, sport, personal use, and subsistence).
The Kenai River sockeye salmon forecast is approximately 4.45 million fish. The 2026 Kenai River forecast is 464,500 (12%) fish more than the historical (1986–2025) average run of 3.98 million fish and 833,000 (23%) fish more than the recent10-year (2016–2025) average run of 3.6 million fish. For sockeye salmon runs 2.3–4.6 million fish, the Kenai River Late-Run Sockeye Salmon Management Plan (KRLSSMP) stipulates ADF&G manage to the SEG range of 750,000–1,300,000 and achieve an inriver goal of 1.1 to 1.4 million fish. The department will formally reassess the UCI sockeye salmon run after July 20. The Kasilof River sockeye salmon run forecast is approximately 1.46 million fish. The 2026 forecast is 515,000 fish (54%)greater than the historical (1986–2025) average run of 954,000 fish and 439,000 fish (43%) greater than the recent 10- year (2016–2025) average run of approximately 1.02 million fish.
Approximately 489,400 and 100,000 sockeye salmon are forecast to return to the Susitna River and Fish Creek respectively in 2026.The 2026 Susitna River sockeye salmon forecast is approximately 93,000 fish (24%) above the historical (2006–2025) average run of 396,000 fish but approximately 126,000 fish (35%) greater the recent 10-year (2016–2025) average run of 363,000 fish. The 2026 Fish Creek sockeye salmon forecast is approximately 10,000 (9%) fish fewer than the recent 10-year (2016–2025) average run size of 110,000.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Upper Cook Inlet Management Area.
Lower Cook Inlet
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
This information is provided to assist the commercial salmon industry in planning for the 2026 season in the Lower Cook Inlet (LCI) Management Area. Information regarding the forecasts used to create this document will soon be available on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) web site:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyarealci.salmon#forecasts
Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA) manages the Trail Lakes Hatchery, Port Graham Hatchery, and Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. Hatchery forecasts can be found by contacting CIAA directly.
Inseason modifications to harvest projections, season opening dates, and strategies for weekly fishing periods may occur as fisheries develop. Fishery announcements from the Homer office may occur on Fridays at 2:00 p.m., and at other times as required. Interested individuals may sign up to receive email announcements here: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main. Recorded commercial fisheries announcements will be available at 907-235-7307. Harvest information and fisheries announcements are located on the ADF&G web site: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyarealci.salmon. The next advisory announcement is expected to be released at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 24.
The commercial harvest from LCI is forecast to be 446,980 salmon, of which 39,800 fish (9%) are anticipated to be of hatchery-origin harvested from special harvest areas (SHAs). Additional hatchery-origin fish are harvested incidentally with wild fish outside of SHAs. Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association forecasts a total of 274,000 hatchery-produced sockeye and 9,200 pink salmon to return to LCI release sites in 2026. Of those, CIAA projects to harvest 234,200 sockeye (85%) for cost recovery and broodstock, and 9,200 pink salmon (100%) for broodstock.
Set Gillnet Fishery
The Southern District is expected to open for the 2026 season on Monday, June 1 at 6:00 a.m. for a 48-hour period. Subsequent commercial fishing periods will likely be 48 hours in duration beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, as specified in regulation. Harvest projections for this district and gear are 27,000 sockeye, 8,600 pink, 1,900 chum, 170 coho, and 130 Chinook salmon. The Port Graham Subdistrict is anticipated to open to commercial set gillnet harvest on June 1 and remain on a schedule concurrent with other areas in the Southern District for this gear. Fishing time in the Port Graham Subdistrict will be closely linked to escapement levels in English Bay and Port Graham rivers.
Purse Seine Fishery
Portions of the Southern District will open to purse seine gear in mid-June, coinciding with hatchery-produced runs to Leisure and Hazel lakes. Historically, these runs peak in mid-July. Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association forecasts a run of 23,100 sockeye salmon to Leisure and Hazel lakes combined, as well as 145,500 sockeye salmon to Tutka Bay. Of those, 20,800 (90%) of the fish returning to Leisure and Hazel lakes, and 117,300 (81%) of the sockeye salmon returning to Tutka Lagoon will be used for cost recovery and broodstock purposes. A total of 9,200 hatchery-produced pink salmon are forecast to return to the Tutka Bay Lagoon release site, all of which will be used for broodstock. Pink salmon escapement in the Southern District has been depressed in recent years. Commercial fishing opportunity may be reduced in this district in the late season to minimize interception of this species.
Hatchery sockeye salmon runs to the Eastern District are forecasted by CIAA to be 84,000 fish of which CIAA has identified 76,800 (91%) for cost recovery and broodstock purposes. Wild stock harvest opportunity in the Eastern District will be linked to aerial survey observations of wild sockeye and pink salmon escapements. The department anticipates commercial purse seine fishing opportunity to occur in late June and/or early July in the Eastern District targeting the sockeye salmon run to Aialik Lake. Commercial salmon deliveries from the Aialik Subdistrict last occurred 20 years ago in 2006.
Portions of the Outer District may open to commercial harvest in early to mid-July focusing on sockeye salmon runs to McCarty Fjord lakes. In recent years, escapement to McCarty Fjord systems (Delight, Desire, and Delusion lakes) have been monitored by aerial survey and weir. Due to a lack of funds, the weir at Delight Lake will not be operated in 2026. Consequently, escapement monitoring for this system will be done via aerial surveys.
Waters in the western portion of the Outer District may be open by late-July, focusing on pink and chum salmon runs to Port Dick, as well as Windy and Rocky bays. There are numerous other smaller systems in the Nuka Passage area that are also monitored for chum and pink salmon. Dogfish Bay, Chugach Bay, and Port Chatham in the western portion of the district will be evaluated for chum and pink salmon harvest potential from August to early September. Harvest projections for the Outer District include 25,000 sockeye, 134,500 pink, and 17,700 chum salmon. Pink salmon harvest for the three most recent even years from this district are 1,563,893 (2020), 324,836 (2022), and 7,091 (2024). In 2024, the aggregate district escapement goal of 105,000–235,000 pink salmon was not achieved, with fewer than 52,000 fish estimated.
Portions of the Kamishak Bay District are anticipated to open to commercial harvest in early to mid-July targeting sockeye salmon returning to Chenik Lake. Additional areas may open based on escapement levels. Commercial harvest projections for wild stocks in this district are 46,200 sockeye, 1,000 pink, and 1,800 chum salmon. The majority of the sockeye salmon harvest is expected to come from Chenik Lake, while the chum salmon harvest has historically been spread throughout the district. The hatchery sockeye salmon run to Kirschner Lake is forecast to be 21,400 fish, of which 19,300 (90%) are expected to be required for hatchery cost recovery. The department tracks salmon escapement in this district using remote video monitoring sites at Chenik and Mikfik lakes, as well as regular aerial surveys of pink and chum salmon index streams. The department intends to monitor the Chenik run using satellite streamed video from the lake and will consider opening Chenik Lagoon once escapement into the lake is adequate.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Lower Cook Inlet Management Area.
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Westward Region
Kodiak
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
The 2026 Kodiak Management Area preseason forecast projects a harvest of approximately 2,036,000 sockeye, 163,000 coho, 12,300,000 pink, and 494,000 chum salmon.
View full details in the 2026 Kodiak Management Area Salmon Forecasts.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Kodiak Management Area.
North Peninsula
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
2026 Outlooks will be available soon.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Alaska Peninsula Management Area webpage.
South Peninsula
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
2026 Outlooks will be available soon.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Alaska Peninsula Management Area webpage.
Chignik
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
2026 Chignik Sockeye Salmon Harvest Forecast
The 2026 Chignik sockeye salmon harvest is forecast to be in the Average category, with a projected Chignik Management Area (CMA) harvest of approximately 1.138 million fish. This is based on a total run estimate of 1.735 million sockeye salmon to the Chignik River system.
The forecast combines the early and late runs:
- Early run: Optimal Escapement Goal (OEG) of 300,000–400,000 fish.
- Late run: OEG of 240,000–360,000 fish.
The combined OEG midpoint (escapement target) is approximately 650,000 fish, leaving an estimated harvest of 1.085 million Chignik-bound sockeye in the Chignik area (expanded to ~1.138 million for the full CMA to account for mixed-stock fisheries).
Commercial fishing in the Chignik Area cannot open until after June 1 and after 40,000 sockeye salmon have escaped or are projected to escape into the Chignik River. Based on the forecast and recent run timing patterns, commercial fishing opportunities are expected to begin sometime in mid- to late June. A more precise estimate of the first opener will be available once the Chignik River weir is installed and operational, anticipated around June 1.
For Advisory Announcements detailing the specific information related to the fishery visit the Advisory Announcements webpage.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Chignik Management Area webpage.
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Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) Region
Yukon River
Last updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
No commercial salmon fishing is anticipated in either the summer or fall seasons of the Yukon River in 2026. The drainagewide Chinook salmon run is expected to be between 52,000 and 79,000 fish which is below average and unlikely to meet escapement goals. The Canadian-origin portion of the Chinook salmon run is forecast to be 22,000 to 33,000 fish, which is well below the U.S./Canada border passage objective of 71,000 fish. The drainagewide summer chum salmon forecast is for a run size of 345,000 fish, with a range of 160,000 to 580,000 fish which is unlikely to meet the lower end of the drainagewide escapement goal of 500,000 to 1,200,000 fish.
The drainagewide fall chum salmon forecast is for a run size of 311,000 fish, with a range of 209,000 to 413,000 fish. There is a large amount of uncertainty in the chum salmon forecasts given the recent salmon declines, the small size of the parent years from 2021 and 2022, and the uncertainty associated with recent year sibling relationships. For fall chum salmon it is unlikely any of the escapement goals will be achieved. The coho salmon run is anticipated to be below average as the parent year was also below average.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Yukon Management Area.
Kuskokwim River
Last updated: Thursday, May 14, 2026
2026 Outlooks will be available soon.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Kuskokwim Management Area.
Norton Sound
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
Salmon outlooks and harvest projections for the 2026 salmon season are based on qualitative assessments of parent-year escapements, sibling relationships, subjective determinations of freshwater overwintering and ocean survival, and the projections of local market conditions. Chinook salmon returns are expected to be weak and similar to last year’s run with no harvestable surplus available for exploitation. The department expects chum salmon to be below average in Norton Sound. The department expects the pink salmon run to be average for an even-numbered year. The 2026 coho salmon returns are predicted to be near average and support limited commercial fishing opportunities.
In Norton Sound, directed commercial fishing for Chinook salmon is not expected and the sale of incidentally caught Chinook salmon in commercial fisheries will not be allowed if subsistence fishing is closed or restricted. Chum salmon harvest is forecasted to be 5,000 to 25,000 fish with most of the harvest expected as incidental catch in the coho salmon fisheries in southern Norton Sound. In even-numbered years pink salmon abundance is consistently higher than in odd-numbered years and harvest is expected to be 5,000 to 25,000 fish, dependent on market interest. The coho salmon run is expected to be similar to last year, as below average ocean survival conditions in recent years continue and the commercial harvest is expected to be 20,000 to 50,000 fish.
In the Port Clarence District, the commercial fishery is expected to remain closed because of a continued lack of market interest.
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Norton Sound & Kotzebue Management Area.
Kotzebue
Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2026
The outlook for the 2026 season is based on the parent-year returns and returning age classes observed in the commercial catch samples obtained in 2025. During the 2025 season, the salmon return was below average and the 2026 return is expected to mirror that weakness but may improve to some extent. The 4-year-old abundance in 2026 is expected to be slightly better than in 2025 based on the percentage of 3-years olds in the 2025 commercial harvest. 3-year-olds accounted for 11.6% of the commercial harvest sampled compared to the long-term average of 7.7% and may indicate a stronger cohort than in recent years. The majority of the commercial harvest in 2025 consisted of 4-year-olds (71.8%). It is expected that the 5-year-old component of harvest to be above average (32.8% historically) based on the 4-year-old return last season and may be slightly more abundant than in 2025. The 3-year-old and 6-year-old age classes are generally minimal components of the run and not expected to influence overall harvest significantly. The commercial harvest is expected to fall within the range of 50,000 to 150,000 chum salmon.
Click the link for more information: 2026 Kotzebue Salmon Outlook
For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Norton Sound & Kotzebue Management Area.
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