(Glennallen) - Effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 27, all waters of the Copper River drainage, upstream of Haley Creek, will reopen to king salmon retention in the sport fishery. However, the annual limit for king salmon, 20 inches or more in length, will be reinstated with a reduced annual limit of two fish. Bait and multiple hooks, including treble hooks may be used where allowed by regulation.

The Copper River King Salmon Fishery Management Plan directs the department to manage all Copper River fisheries to achieve a sustainable escapement goal of 21,000 to 31,000 king salmon in the Copper River drainage. As of June 15, 2022 the king salmon run to the Copper River was projected to be weaker than the preseason forecast of 40,000 king salmon and inriver abundance estimates were projected to be near the lower bound of the escapement goal. Since that time, king salmon migration into the Copper River has improved with all indices of abundance projecting a final inriver run estimate sufficient to allow additional harvest and achieve the Copper River drainage king salmon escapement goal.

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