Contact:
Carol Kerkvliet
Assistant Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 235-1730

Anglers are advised that, in an effort to meet minimum king salmon escapement goals in the Anchor and Ninilchik rivers, and to meet the Ninilchik River king salmon egg-take goal, the department is implementing the following sport fishing restrictions:

Anchor and Ninilchik Rivers:
• The Anchor and Ninilchik rivers close to sport fishing beginning Sunday, July 1, at 12:01 a.m., and will remain closed through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 15, 2012.

• The use of bait and multiple hooks is prohibited in the Anchor and Ninilchik rivers beginning at 12:01 a.m., Monday, July 16, through 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Anglers may use only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure. “Single hook” means a fishhook with only one point (with or without a barb). King salmon may not be targeted and any caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. On the Anchor River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker will remain located 1,000 feet downstream of the junction of the North and South forks, remains in effect through July 31.

Deep and Stariski Creeks:
• The use of bait and multiple hooks is prohibited in Deep and Stariski creeks beginning at 12:01 a.m., Sunday, July 1, to 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, July 31, 2012. King salmon may not be targeted and king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The sustainable escapement goal for king salmon in the Anchor River is 3,800–10,000 fish. The Anchor River escapement of king salmon through June 24, 2012 was 2,979 fish. From 2004-2008, 69 percent to 92 percent of the Anchor River king salmon escapement was upstream of the salmon weir by June 24. Currently, it is uncertain that the escapement goal for king salmon will be achieved; therefore, restrictions are necessary to protect Anchor River-bound and upstream migrating king salmon needed to achieve the spawning escapement goal.

The sustainable escapement goal for king salmon in the Ninilchik River is 550-1,300 wild king
salmon through the weir from July 3-31. The egg-take goal is 111 king salmon pairs. In 2007 and 2009, escapement was below the goal; numbers were near the goal’s lower end in 2008, 2010, and 2011.

To minimize the shifting of effort due to conservation actions for the Anchor and Ninilchik rivers, it is warranted to restrict fishing gear on Deep and Stariski creeks as well.

END