(Glennallen) - The Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery will open for a 96-hour period, and retention of king salmon is prohibited for the remainder of the season:

• CLOSED: 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 13 – 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 15
• OPEN: 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 16 – 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 19
• King salmon may not be retained.

The Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery is managed under 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.

Total salmon passage past Miles Lake sonar this season is below the objective. As of July 5, a total of 431,280 salmon have been counted past Miles Lake sonar, compared to the preseason projection of 461,919 salmon for this date, making total salmon passage past Miles Lake sonar about 30,600 salmon less than the target management objective range. Strong sonar passage from June 29 – July 5 would typically allow for 168 hours of fishing opportunity for the week of July 13 – 19 based on Copper River sockeye salmon migratory timing and the previous three-year average harvest and participation rates. However, due to low overall salmon passage this season and concerns that the sockeye salmon escapement goal may not be achieved, additional conservation measures are needed. Therefore, the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery will be open for 96 hours during the week of July 13–19. If total salmon passage enters the target management objective range this season (see Figure 1 below), the personal use fishery will be managed based on weekly sonar counts, as outlined in the preseason schedule.

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.
• Steelhead cannot be kept. All steelhead 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.
• 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 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 (O'Brien Creek Permit Program) or Ahtna, Inc Land Use Permits 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 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.

Figure 1 - This season’s total salmon passage (red line) past Miles Lake sonar compared to the target management objective range (gray shaded area).

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