(Fairbanks) – Due to a preseason forecast for a below-average king salmon run in Northwest Alaska, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing all fresh waters in Northwest Alaska from Bald Head to Point Romanof to sport fishing for king salmon effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, February 19, 2026. This closure includes, but is not limited to, the Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Ungalik, Inglutalik, and Golsovia River drainages.

This closure will remain in effect through Wednesday, September 30, 2026, or until there are indications there is a harvestable surplus of king salmon. Escapements for the Unalakleet River are determined by expanding counts compiled at a counting tower on the North River to estimate drainage-wide escapement.

The 2026 preseason outlook for the Unalakleet River drainage king salmon run is poor, and there likely will not be enough returning king salmon to meet escapement objectives and provide harvest opportunity. According to the Subdistricts 5 and 6 of the Norton Sound District and the Unalakleet River King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 04.395), when the inriver subsistence fishery is closed, sport fishing for king salmon will be closed. At this time, closure of the Unalakleet River subsistence fishery to protect returning king salmon will take effect February 19, 2026. The Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Ungalik, Inglutalik, and Golsovia River drainages are closed as well because the department does not have reliable king salmon run information for these drainages. However, these king salmon runs trend similar to the Unalakleet River run and are managed as a unit.

The department will continue to evaluate inseason run strength and take appropriate management actions to help meet escapement objectives. If inseason stock assessment indicates that the king salmon escapement objectives in the Unalakleet River will be achieved, restrictions may be relaxed.

For additional information contact Brendan Scanlon, Northwest and North Slope Area Management Biologist, at 907-459-7268 or brendan.scanlon@alaska.gov.

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