(Fairbanks) - The application period for the Chatanika River Personal Use Whitefish Spear Fishery Permit lottery opens at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 27, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 7. Applicants may enter the lottery online at the ADF&G Online Store.

Only one online lottery entry per household is allowed, and only one permit per household will be issued. Applicants must possess a valid 2026 Alaska resident sport fishing license to enter the lottery, unless they are under 18 years of age.

A total of 400 permits will be issued this year. Permit recipients will be selected through a random lottery. Results will be emailed to applicants and posted on the ADF&G website on Friday, August 21. Successful applicants will receive their permits by email no later than Monday, August 24, 2026, and the permit must be printed and signed before participating in the fishery.

The fishery will be open from 12:01 a.m. Friday, September 11, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, October 12. The annual household harvest limit is 10 whitefish, with no size restrictions. The harvest may include any combination of humpback whitefish, round whitefish, and least cisco.

Reminder: Sheefish and Arctic grayling may not be speared or harvested.

All permit holders are required to submit an online harvest report by October 31, even if they did not fish or did not harvest any fish. Permittees without internet access may use a public computer at the Fairbanks ADF&G office with staff assistance or contact Fairbanks or Delta Junction ADF&G offices for help. Permit holders who fail to submit a harvest report by the October 31 deadline will be ineligible to receive a Chatanika River Personal Use Whitefish Spear Fishery Permit in 2027.

For additional information, contact Brandy Baker, Tanana River Area Assistant Management Biologist, at (907) 895-4637, or Andrew Gryska, Tanana River Area Management Biologist, at (907) 459-7339.

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