Contact:
Donn Tracy
Area Management Biologist
Phone: 907-486-1880

King salmon fishing on the Karluk River will be closed by emergency order beginning 12:01 a.m., Monday, June 1, through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2015. King salmon incidentally caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. As an added measure to reduce the probability of hooking king salmon, the use of bait will be prohibited, and only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used within the Karluk drainage below Karluk Lake, including the lagoon and its outlet stream.

The biological escapement goal (BEG) for Karluk River king salmon is 3,000 to 6,000 fish. Despite management actions to reduce king salmon harvest in sport, commercial and subsistence fisheries, the king salmon BEG has been achieved only twice since 2006. In January 2011, the Board of Fish designated Karluk River king salmon a stock of concern. Although escapements improved slightly in 2011 and 2012, the recent trend of poor runs and a very low escapement in 2014 warrant closing the inriver sport fishery. 

The 2015 king salmon run will be monitored daily at the ADF&G Karluk River salmon counting weir. Additional management action for the sport fishery may be considered as the run progresses.

For more information, contact the Division of Sport Fish office in Kodiak at (907) 486-
1880.