(Released: May 03, 2017)

Division of Sport Fish
Tom Brookover, Director
Anchorage Headquarters Office
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518


Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Sam Cotten, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
www.adfg.alaska.gov


Contact: Mark Somerville, UCUS Area Management Biologist
907-822-3309

PRESEASON SCHEDULE FOR THE 2017 COPPER RIVER PERSONAL USE DIP NET SALMON FISHERY

The preliminary 2017 schedule for the Copper River Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery is listed in the table below. This schedule is based on projected daily sonar counts at the Miles Lake sonar and is designed to distribute the harvest throughout the run based on actual salmon abundance.

2017 Copper River Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon Fishery Preseason Schedule
Dates Fishing
Period
hours
Thursday, June 08, 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, June 11, 11:59 p.m. 96
Monday, June 12, 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, June 18, 11:59 p.m. 168
Monday, June 19, 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, June 25, 11:59 p.m. 168
Monday, June 26, 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, July 02, 11:59 p.m. 168
Monday, July 03, 12:01 a.m. through Tuesday, July 04, 11:59 p.m. 48
Friday, July 07, 6:00 a.m. through Sunday, July 09, 11:59 p.m. 66
Tuesday, July 11, 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, July 16, 11:59 p.m. 126
Tuesday, July 18, 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, July 23, 11:59 p.m. 126
Wednesday, July 26, 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, July 30, 11:59 p.m. 102
Wednesday, August 02, 6:00 a.m. through Sunday, August 06, 11:59 p.m. 114
Monday, August 07, 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, August 13, 11:59 p.m. 150
Monday, August 14, 6:00 p.m. through Thursday, August 31, 11:59 p.m. Continuous

This schedule is subject to change based on actual salmon escapement once the sonar is operational. Actual fishing times will be established through emergency order each week. Travel time for salmon between the Miles Lake sonar and Chitina is approximately two to three weeks; as a result, changes to the preliminary schedule will be announced approximately one week prior to the fishing period. After August 31, the fishery will remain open, by regulation, through September 30. As a reminder, the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery has been closed to the retention of king salmon for the 2017 season.

All residents of Alaska qualify to participate in this personal use fishery. A Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit and a resident Alaska sport fishing license are required. Both dip net permits and fishing licenses can be obtained online at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/Store/. Beginning in 2017, a $15 fee will be charged for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon fishery permit. Revenue from the fee will support the sanitation services at the fishery and trail maintenance from O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek. The fee was adopted by the Alaska Legislature during the 2016 session.

The department urges dipnetters to respect the rights of private landowners in the area and know the regulations before fishing. For information on access across private lands contact Chitina Native Corporation at (907) 823-2223.

Information regarding the fishery can be found at the ADF&G web site: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaInteriorChitina.main. This site provides information regarding the Upper Copper River fisheries including: fishery descriptions and summaries, maps of the subdistricts, a listing of vendors that carry the permits, and links to the sonar numbers and fishing schedule emergency orders.

The current fishing schedule will be announced on the Chitina Fishery information line at 822-5224 (Glennallen), 459-7382 (Fairbanks), and 267-2511 (Anchorage). Please contact an 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 fishery, please contact the ADF&G office in Glennallen at (907) 822-3309.

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