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.

Southeast Alaska & Yakutat

Troll Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

A fourth Chinook salmon retention opened as a limited harvest fishery (LHF) from September 11 through September 20 to target approximately 5,400 treaty Chinook salmon remaining on the annual all-gear commercial fisheries allocation. A total of 15 fish were allocated to each troll permit holder, with no registration required for this fishery. Preliminary harvest reported on fish tickets indicate 6 permits have landed 24 Chinook in the LHF.

Preliminary fish ticket data reported through September 11 indicates a total of 571 troll permits have landed 55,700 Chinook salmon during the summer troll season. Harvest reported on fish tickets for other species include 882,100 coho and 458,800 chum salmon. Average prices are $8.19/lb for Chinook, $2.15/lb for coho and $0.70 /lb for chum salmon. Current average weights are 10.9 lb for Chinook, 5.4 lb for coho, and 6.7 lb for chum salmon. Chinook salmon average weight is above the 2024 average by 0.3 lb but below the 5-year average of 11.0 lb, while coho salmon average weight is below 2024 by 0.2 lb and above the 5-year average by 0.1 lb. Chum salmon average weight is below the 2024 and the 5-year average by 0.2 lb and 0.4 lb.

The current regional power troll coho salmon catch rate for this week (SW 37) is 77 coho/boat/day, with the highest catch rate in the Southern Outside area at 112/boat/day, followed by the Central Outside area at 90/boat/day, Central Inside area at 40/boat/day, and Southern Inside area at 31/boat/day.

Directed chum salmon fisheries in Sitka Sound/Deep Inlet, West Behm Canal/Neets Bay and Icy Strait are finished for the season. A total of 271,500 chum salmon have been reported from the directed troll fishery in Sitka Sound by 114 vessels at a rate of 338 fish/landing. Harvest reporting from Neets Bay indicates that 60 vessels took 174,100 chum salmon at a rate of 324 fish/landing. The District 14 fishery in Icy Strait reported a harvest of 4,900 chum salmon taken by 9 vessels from 23 landings, at a rate of 213 fish per landing.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Purse Seine Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Directed pink salmon common property purse seine fisheries closed on September 1 for the remainder of the 2025 season. Common property opportunity remains in select hatchery terminal harvest areas for coho and fall chum salmon. In addition, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will continue to monitor fall chum salmon runs to Cholmondeley Sound, Security Bay, Port Camden, Nakwasina Sound, Chaik Bay, and Excursion Inlet for additional opportunity.

The 2025 Southeast Alaska pink salmon harvest forecast was predicted to be average with a point estimate of 29 million fish. Traditional common property purse seine openings directed at harvesting pink salmon began July 3 and concluded September 1. This year’s traditional common property purse seine harvest estimate is 19 million pink salmon, approximately 25.3 million less than the parent year harvest of 44.3 million pink salmon. The majority of the pink salmon harvest was from Northern Southeast, with District 13 harvesting 5.4 million pink salmon. The total southeast pink salmon harvest estimate, including harvest from the drift gillnet fishery and Annette Islands Reserve, is currently at 19.7 million fish. Pink salmon average weight was less than 3.3 pounds. Pink salmon escapement surveys are still being flown and escapements are being tabulated. Purse seine effort decreased from 2023 (210 permits) but was slightly higher than 2024 (197 permits) with 200 permits making landings.

Hatchery produced chum salmon runs were expected to be average to above average in 2025. With the exception of Deep and Crawfish Inlets, hatchery produced chum salmon runs have concluded. The estimated common property purse seine THA harvest is 1.5 million chum salmon, below the 2015–2024 average harvest of 2.1 million chum salmon.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Drift Gillnet Fishery

Last updated: Friday, June 20, 2025

A detailed management plan for the 2025 season will be posted at:

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.salmon#management

There are 5 traditional drift gillnet fishing areas in SEAK: 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. The Pacific Salmon Treaty PST directly influences management of Districts 1, 6, 8, and 11 drift gillnet fisheries (5 AAC 33.361).

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 began 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.

Traditional common property fisheries began on June 15. For details on various drift gillnet fisheries, see the following sections by gillnet area.

The ADF&G interactive map where districts, sections, closed waters as well as other features used in the management of commercial salmon fisheries can be viewed, has been updated with recent changes from the Alaska Board of Fisheries and descriptions of THAs have been added. This map is available on the ADF&G website at: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.salmon#maps. Geographic information system data used to make the map is also available for download at: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main.

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, September 12, 2025

The Tree Point drift gillnet fishery opened at 12:01 p.m., on Sunday, September 7, for a 4-day fishing period. In comparison to the 10-year average, the harvests of all salmon species were below average. The effort level of 22 vessels was below the 10-year average of 30 vessels. The estimated weekly harvest for statistical week 37 was 3,200 coho salmon, 150 pink salmon and 2,000 chum salmon. The Section 1-B drift gillnet fishery is now being managed based on fall coho salmon returns. For SW 38, the Section 1-B drift gillnet fishery will receive four days of fishing time, beginning at 12:01 p.m., Sunday, September 14, 2025.

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, September 12, 2025

The Districts 6 and 8 gillnet fishery opened on September 7 for 3 days with management based on wild coho salmon abundance. The number of participants remained well below average at ~60% of the recent 10-year average. Harvest and catch per unit effort (CPUE) also remained below average again for both districts this week. The proportion of clipped fish last week continued its increasing trend, reaching approximately 35%, and is in line with historical timing. The preliminary harvest estimate for this week is 20 Chinook, 10 sockeye, 4,500 coho, 150 pink, and 2,900 chum salmon from 34 boats in District 6. The District 8 harvest includes 10 Chinook, 10 sockeye, 2,000 coho, 0 pink, and 200 chum salmon from 18 boats. With a continued weakness apparent in the wild coho salmon run and expected low effort, both districts will open for 3 days starting September 7.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Taku-Snettisham/Section 11-B

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Coho salmon harvest in the District 11 drift gillnet fishery took a sharp decline this week, and the estimated harvest of 1,600 fish was 34% of the recent 10-year average and catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 53% of average. Effort this week was 75% of average with an estimated 18 boats taking part in the opening.

Coho salmon catches appeared to be driven primarily by returning Douglas Island Pink and Chum hatchery coho again this week, and Coded Wire Tags recovered from the fishery were over 90% hatchery fish. The Taku River wild coho salmon terminal run estimate dropped again this week, and generated a projected terminal run estimate of 90,000 fish which is below the pre-season terminal run forecast of 121,000 fish and the 10-year average terminal run of 92,000 fish. The current inriver run estimate is 46,000 fish at 64% of the 10-year average run timing. The Taku River biological escapement goal (BEG) range is 50,000 to 90,000 coho salmon with a management objective of 70,000 fish.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Lynn Canal/District 15

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Gillnet fishing activity in District 15 began with a solid start during the initial 24-hour opening but declined noticeably by Tuesday. Although gale-force winds of up to 40 knots were forecasted earlier in the week, these conditions did not materialize until Wednesday.

Encouraged by early signs of above-average catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and a reduced fleet size, fishery managers authorized a 24-hour extension to improve harvest opportunities. However, only a limited number of vessels participated in the extended opening.

Fishing effort continued to decline this week, with just 38 boats participating— below the seasonal average of 53 vessels. Despite the lower effort, chum salmon harvests saw a significant increase, with an estimated 10,000 fish landed—127% of the weekly average. Coho catch rates improved slightly over previous weeks, though they remained below expectations. The estimated coho harvest of 6,000 fish represents 78% of the weekly average.

The Chilkoot Lake weir project has concluded for the season, with a final sockeye escapement estimate of 32,000 fish—below the escapement goal range of 38,000 to 86,000. This marks the first time the goal has not been met since 2009.

Meanwhile, the Chilkat Lake DIDSON project remains active and will continue operations through the second week of October. The current cumulative escapement estimate of over 101,000 sockeye salmon remains well within the established escapement goal range.

The opening of the Haines subsistence moose hunt on Monday (September 15) is expected to further reduce fishing effort during Statistical Week 38. The department will continue monitoring the abundance of wild coho and chum salmon through fishery performance data. Aerial surveys to assess chum and coho salmon escapements in the Chilkat River drainage will begin in October.

District 15 will open next week (SW 38) for three days, with the same areas open as in recent weeks.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Yakutat Area Set Gillnet Fishery

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

The East Alsek River, Alsek River, Akwe River, Dangerous River, Yakutat Bay, Manby Shore Outside and Manby Shore inside waters were open for this statistical week but were not fished. This participation in these systems matches recent trends.

The Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet set gillnet fishery opened on September 7, for 105-hours. A total of 49 permits harvested 14,434 coho, 38 pink and 1 chum salmon. Fleet participation was near average, and coho harvest was near average for this statistical week.

In the Yakataga District the Tsiu and Kaliakh Rivers are being fished this week and deliveries have not been completed yet for this week.

Escapement monitoring at the Situk River weir for sockeye and Chinook salmon started on June 1st and the weir was pulled on August 7th. Numbers have been verified, and model has been run for the days missed in June. Still have to run a model for the last three days of the season, but right now we are at 140,199 sockeye, 1,353 large Chinook, 644 medium Chinook and 759 small Chinook salmon have been enumerated at the weir.

The Italio River systems will open by emergency order when adequate levels of escapement can be documented.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Terminal Harvest Area (THA) Fisheries

Last updated: Friday, July 25, 2025

For the 2025 season, Terminal Harvest Area (THA) fisheries to harvest fish returning to Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) hatchery release sites will occur at Nakat Inlet, Carroll Inlet, Port Saint Nicholas, and Anita Bay. Fisheries to harvest fish returning to Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) hatchery release sites will occur at Southeast Cove, Thomas Bay, Hidden Falls, Crawfish Inlet, and Deep Inlet. Fisheries to harvest fish returning to Douglas Island Pink and Chum release sites will occur at Boat Harbor. THA fisheries may occur at other release sites depending on cost-recovery operations. THA fisheries are managed in accordance with regulatory management plans, stock of concern action plans, and in consultation with the hatchery operators. Details regarding the open fishing periods by gear type in each THA will be announced via commercial fishery advisory announcements.

For inseason updates see hatchery organization website for SSRAA at http://www.ssraa.org/; NSRAA at https://www.nsraa.org/ and DIPAC at https://www.dipac.net/.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Nakat Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

The forecasted Nakat Inlet return is 516,000 summer chum, 6,000 fall chum, and 22,000 coho salmon. The Nakat Inlet THA will be open by regulation to the harvest of salmon by drift gillnet gear from Sunday, June 1, through Monday, November 10, 2025. The current estimated harvest is 400,000 chum and 800 coho salmon.

For updates on SSRAA contributions 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.

Neets Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, August 01, 2025

The forecast for the Neets Bay return is 1,375,000 summer chum salmon and 98,000 coho salmon. There are no forecasted returns of fall chum or Chinook salmon this season. The Neets Bay THA opens to the harvest of salmon by troll gear on Friday, June 27, 2025. The Neets Bay THA expands to Chin Point on July 1. Chinook salmon may not be retained in the Neets Bay THA this season. There will be no initial rotational fisheries between drift gillnet and purse seine in the Neets Bay THA to allow for the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) to conduct cost recovery fishing and for broodstock collection. If chum abundance exceeds cost recovery and broodstock needs, a rotational net fishery may open and would be announced later this summer. Neets Bay will close to the harvest of salmon by troll gear on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

For further information please refer to the April 15, 2025, ADF&G announcement for Neets Bay THA and updates on 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: Friday, August 22, 2025

The forecasted return for Kendrick Bay is 1,431,000 summer chum salmon. The Kendrick Bay THA remained closed to the common property fishery on June 15, 2025, to allow SSRAA to conduct cost recovery operations. SSRAA harvested their cost recovery goal of 1.5 million pounds of chum salmon in Kendrick Bay THA, and it opened to common property fishing on July 10. The current estimated harvest is 335,000 chum salmon.

For further information please refer to the April 16, 2025, ADF&G announcement for the Kendrick Bay THA. Updates on SSRAA contribution can be found on their website at http://www.ssraa.org/.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Caroll Inlet THA

Last updated: Thursday, July 03, 2025

The forecasted return for Carroll Inlet is 11,100 Chinook salmon. The Carroll Inlet THA will be open to troll gear from Sunday, June 1, through Monday, June 30, 2025. The Carroll Inlet THA will be open in the waters of Carroll Inlet north of the latitude of 55°34.83′ N lat, approximately 1.3 nautical miles north of Nigelius Point, to the harvest of salmon by net gear groups from Sunday, June 1, through Saturday June 7, 2025. The entire THA will open to drift gillnet and purse seine concurrently Sunday, June 8 through noon, Thursday, June 12, 2025. The Carroll Inlet THA will open to a rotational fishery between purse seine and drift gillnet on Sunday, June 15, 2025. The 500-yard stream closure (5 AAC 39.290) will not be in effect in the Carroll Inlet THA. The Carroll Inlet THA will close to all gear groups on Monday, June 30, 2025. . The current estimated harvest is 2,600 Chinook salmon by purse seine gear and 1,100 Chinook salmon by drift gillnet gear.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Anita Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

SSRAA is forecasting total runs of 8,900 Chinook, 395,000 summer chum, and 13,600 coho salmon from releases at Anita Bay. A total of 7,900 Chinook, 158,000 summer chum, and 6,100 coho salmon are expected to be available for harvest in the THA. The total reported gillnet harvest to date is 4,500 Chinook, 55,000 chum, and 700 coho salmon. The seine harvest to date is 5,900 Chinook, 135,000 chum, and 100 coho salmon. Trolling efforts have harvested an additional 185 Chinook salmon. The Anita Bay common property fishery is governed as described in the District 7: Anita Bay Terminal Harvest Area Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 33.383). Further details of the 2025 season fishing schedule and open area within the Anita Bay THA can be found in an ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 16.

For further information and updates on Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) contributions and updates visit the SSRAA website.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Deep Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2025

Deep Inlet THA reopened to all common property commercial fisheries on August 26. The purse seine fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday, August 30. From August 31 through September 20, the purse seine fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, Thursday, and Friday of each week.

The drift gillnet fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m, Friday, August 29. From August 31 through September 20, the drift gillnet fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each week.

Harvest from drift gillnet openings to date is approximately 2,100 Chinook salmon and 130,500 chum salmon. Harvest from seine openings to date is approximately 2,100 Chinook salmon and 467,000 chum salmon.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Hidden Falls THA

Last updated: Friday, July 11, 2025

The Hidden Falls THA has been closed to common property harvest since July 7 to aid in cost-recovery harvest. Depending on the progress of the cost recovery fishery, portions of the Hidden Falls THA may reopen to common property harvest later in the season. Harvest from the seine openings to date is 340 Chinook salmon and 316,000 chum salmon.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Crawfish Inlet THA

Last updated: Friday, August 08, 2025

NSRAA expects a run of 454,000 chum salmon to 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 needed for broodstock in Crawfish Inlet.

The Crawfish Inlet THA closed to all common property fishing on July 27 to aid in cost recovery operations. To date there has been no recorded harvest within Crawfish Inlet THA.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Thomas Bay THA

Last updated: Friday, August 08, 2025

NSRAA is forecasting a total run of 379,000 chum salmon to the Thomas Bay THA. The reported harvest to date is confidential. A portion of the run will be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound. Cost recovery efforts are not planned for 2025. The Thomas Bay THA closed to common property purse seine and troll fisheries on Saturday, August 9, 2025. Details of the 2025 Thomas Bay THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 16.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.

Southeast Cove THA

Last updated: Friday, July 25, 2025

NSRAA is forecasting a total run of 587,000 summer chum and 550 Chinook salmon to the Southeast Cove THA. The total reported harvest to date is confidential. The THA closed to all common property fisheries on July 6 for cost recovery operations and will remain closed until cost recovery has been completed. However, common property openings did occur this week due to the buildup of hatchery chum salmon within the THA. If closures or additional openings are warranted, they will be announced by advisory announcement. A portion of the run will be harvested in common property fisheries in Chatham Strait. Details of the 2025 Southeast Cove THA fishing schedule and area were announced in a separate ADF&G advisory announcement released on April 29.

In 2025, cost recovery will occur in the Southeast Cove THA beginning Monday, July 7.

For more information, please visit the ADF&G website for the Southeast Alaska and Yakutat Management Area.