(Prince William Sound) – In an effort to harvest a surplus of king salmon returning to the Cordova Terminal Harvest Area, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation liberalization by allowing king salmon to be snagged in the waters of the Fleming Spit Lagoon area effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, July 10 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 15, 2018.

The Fleming Spit Lagoon area includes the lagoon waters east (upstream) of the culverts on Fleming Spit Creek. The marine waters of the Cordova Terminal Harvest Area outside of the lagoon will remain closed to snagging until the waters open by regulation on October 1, 2018. The king salmon bag and possession limits remain the same as per regulation, two per day and four in possession, no size limit.

A survey of the Fleming Spit Lagoon estimated 50 stocked king salmon have returned and are holding in the lagoon. The king salmon holding in the lagoon have started to change color, indicating these available fish are diminishing in quality. King salmon returning to the portion of the lagoon upstream of the culverts are more difficult to catch using bait or lures; therefore, by allowing snagging in the Fleming Spit Lagoon area, anglers would have an opportunity to increase harvest ability.

For additional information, please contact the Area Management Biologist Jay Baumer at (907) 267-2218.

#18-2602