(Kodiak) - In favor of protecting returning sockeye salmon and ensuring fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is closing sport fishing for sockeye salmon in the Pasagshak River drainage effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 14 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2023. This closure prohibits sport fishing for sockeye salmon, including catch-and-release. During the closure, sockeye salmon may not be targeted, possessed, or retained; sockeye salmon that are caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

“Through July 11, only 601 sockeye salmon have been counted through the Pasagshak weir at the outlet of Lake Rose Teed. This is well below average and similar to previous years that did not achieve the escapement goal,” stated Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum. “Typically, the run is about 29% complete by now and even with recently improved counts, there are few fish holding in the river and it’s not expected to meet the escapement goal of 3,000 fish.”

Sockeye salmon fishing opportunities may be restored in the Pasagshak River drainage by a subsequent emergency order if ADF&G weir counts improve and indicate the sockeye salmon escapement goal will be achieved.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Tyler Polum at (907) 486-1880.

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