(Glennallen) - The Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery will be open continuously from:

• OPEN: 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 28 – 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 31
• King salmon may not be retained

The Chitina Subdistrict personal use dipnet salmon fishery is managed under direction of the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan (5 AAC 77.591). The plan establishes the season from June 10 through September 30 and directs the department to establish fishing periods based on Miles Lake sonar counts. During July 14–20, there were 82,381 salmon counted past the Miles Lake sonar. The preseason projection for this period was 45,139 salmon, which results in a surplus of 37,242 salmon. Salmon passage has consistently exceeded the daily projection during this period and season total passage has exceeded the projected total passage by over 280,000 fish. The Miles Lake sonar is scheduled to end operations on July 28, and it is unlikely that salmon passage will drop below the projection for the remainder of the project's operation. Based on the number of Copper River sockeye salmon past the sonar as of July 20, known Copper River sockeye salmon migratory timing and the previous three-year average harvest and participation rates, sufficient numbers of salmon will be available to justify opening the personal use fishery continuously from July 28 through August 31. The fishery is open by regulation from September 1–30.

As a reminder, the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan and the Statewide Personal Use Fishing Regulations state that:

• The annual limit is 25 salmon for the head of household and 10 salmon for each dependent of the permit holder.
• King salmon cannot be kept. All king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
• Personal use fishers must possess both their Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit and a valid resident sport fishing license when fishing.
• Steelhead cannot be kept and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
• You must record your harvest on the permit immediately.
• Both tips of the tail fin of personal use caught fish must be clipped immediately upon landing a fish. Immediately is defined as before concealing the salmon from plain view or transporting the salmon from the fishing site. Fishing site means the location where the fish was removed from the water and became part of the permit holder’s bag limit.

All Alaska residents qualify to participate in this personal use fishery. You must have a Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit and a resident Alaska sport fishing license when dipnetting. Both dip net permits and fishing licenses can be obtained online at the ADF&G online store. A $15 fee is charged for the Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit. Revenue from the fee supports the sanitation services at the fishery and trail maintenance from O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek.

The department urges dipnetters to respect the rights of private landowners in the area and familiarize themselves with the land ownership in the area before fishing. For information on access across private lands contact Chitina Native Corporation at (907) 823-2223 or Ahtna, Inc. at (907) 822-3476.

Additionally, the department urges dipnetters to adhere to signs and detours constructed along the O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek section of Copper River Highway Right of Way (ROW). The detours were constructed in 2024 to avoid disturbing cultural sites within and along the ROW. Any violation or disturbance to protected cultural sites will result in immediate closure of this access road. For more information visit the Alaska Department of Transportation describing the changes to the access route.

Information regarding the fishery can be found at the Chitina dipnetting page on the ADF&G web site. This site provides information regarding the Upper Copper River fisheries including: fishery descriptions and summaries, maps of the subdistricts, a list of vendors that issue permits, and links to the sonar numbers and fishing schedule emergency orders.

The current fishing schedule is announced on the Chitina Fishery information line at (907) 822-5224. Please contact the information phone line prior to planning your trip to Chitina to ensure that the fishery will be open when you arrive. If you have any questions regarding the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dipnet salmon fishery, please contact the ADF&G office in Glennallen at (907) 822-3309.

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