(Palmer) - With low sockeye salmon numbers in Larson Creek, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is prohibiting sport fishing for all salmon species in the Larson Creek drainage and within a one-quarter mile radius of its confluence with the Talkeetna River effective 6:00 a.m. Saturday, August 10 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019.

“The run of sockeye to Larson Creek is winding down for the year,” stated Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey. “The sustainable escapement goal for Larson Creek is between 15,000 and 35,000 fish. As of August 7, 2019, the weir count was 3,041 sockeye salmon. We need to see more fish pass through the weir. Even if we use a record late run timing model, the projected escapement is less than what is required to achieve the escapement goal. Allowing harvest of sockeye to continue would further limit the number of fish in the creek and have an impact on the spawning population.”

Salmon may not be targeted, retained, or possessed and must be released immediately if caught incidentally. Sport fishing for and harvest of species other than salmon is not affected by this emergency order and may proceed 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day. Larson Creek is in Unit 5 of the Susitna River drainage. Additional regulatory information can be found on page 35 of the 2019 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey at (907) 746-6300.

#19-2833