(Fairbanks) – To protect returning coho salmon and ensure fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing the Yukon River drainage (excluding the Tanana River drainage) to sport fishing for coho salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, September 8, 2022. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for coho salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. All coho salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Estimated passage of coho salmon past the Pilot Station sonar through September 5, 2022, was 89,570, which is well below the median cumulative count of 141,925. The closure of the coho salmon sport fishery is warranted throughout the entire Yukon River drainage, excluding the Tanana River, to ensure adequate spawning escapement.

Reminder: Sport fishing for chum salmon in the Yukon River drainage (excluding the Tanana River drainage) remains closed. Similar to coho salmon, the chum salmon run is trending well-below the median.

For additional information, please contact Lisa Stuby, Yukon Area Management Biologist at (907) 459-7202.

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