(Released: May 05, 2021)

CONTACT: Mark Somerville
Area Management Biologist
(907) 822-3309


2021 Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Preseason Schedule

(Glennallen) In accordance with the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan (5 AAC 77.591) the preliminary 2021 schedule for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery is listed in the table below. The schedule is based on projected daily sonar counts at the Miles Lake sonar and is designed to distribute the harvest throughout the run.

2021 Copper River Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon Fishery Preseason Schedule

2021 Copper River Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon Fishery Preseason Schedule
Dates Fishing period
hours
Start End Number of hours
Monday, June 07, 12:01 AM through Sunday, June 13, 11:59 PM 168
Monday, June 14, 12:01 AM through Sunday, June 20, 11:59 PM 168
Monday, June 21, 12:01 AM through Tuesday, June 22, 11:59 PM 48
Thursday, June 24, 12:01 AM through Sunday, June 27, 11:59 PM 96
Monday, June 28, 12:01 AM through Monday, June 28, 11:59 PM 24
Thursday, July 01, 12:00 PM through Sunday, July 04, 11:59 PM 84
Monday, July 05, 12:01 AM through Tuesday, July 06, 11:59 PM 48
Thursday, July 08, 6:00 AM through Sunday, July 11, 11:59 PM 90
Monday, July 12, 12:01 AM through Monday, July 12, 11:59 PM 24
Friday, July 16, 12:00 PM through Sunday, July 18, 11:59 PM 60
Friday, July 23, 6:00 AM through Sunday, July 25, 11:59 PM 66
Monday, July 26, 12:01 AM through Monday, July 26, 11:59 PM 24
Thursday, July 29, 6:00 PM through Sunday, August 01, 11:59 PM 78
Monday, August 02, 12:01 AM through Monday, August 02, 11:59 PM 24
Friday, August 06, 12:01 AM through Sunday, August 08, 11:59 PM 72
Monday, August 09, 12:01 AM through Monday, August 09, 11:59 PM 24
Tuesday, August 10, 6:00 PM through Sunday, August 15, 11:59 PM 126
Saturday, August 21, 6:00 AM through Sunday, August 22, 11:59 PM 42
Monday, August 23, 12:01 AM through Monday, August 23, 11:59 PM 24
Thursday, August 26, 12:01 AM through Sunday, August 29, 11:59 PM 96
Monday, August 30, 12:01 AM through Tuesday, August 31, 11:59 PM 48

This preliminary schedule for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use fishery will be adjusted weekly based on actual sonar fish counts, as directed by the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan. Travel time for salmon between the Miles Lake sonar and the Chitina Subdistrict is approximately two to three weeks; as a result, changes to the preliminary schedule will be announced by emergency order approximately one week prior to the fishing period. By regulation, the Chitina personal use dipnet fishery is open 7 days a week, September 1–30.

The 2021 Copper River forecast is 1.35 million wild and hatchery sockeye salmon combined, and 37,000 king salmon. The inriver goal, for the number of salmon passing the Miles Lake sonar, is 605,000–995,000 salmon. This goal ensures sufficient salmon for spawning escapement, subsistence, personal use and sport fishing needs, and hatchery brood stock.

Only Alaska residents are eligible to participate in personal use fisheries. 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. A $15 fee is charged for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon fishery permit. Revenue from the fee supports the sanitation services at the fishery and trail maintenance from O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek.

All 2021 Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery permit participation and harvest reporting must be completed online through the ADF&G website. Online reporting is required whether you fished the permit or not. Permits returned by mail or hand-delivered will not be accepted.

The deadline to report your Chitina personal use fishing activity is October 15. Permit holders who fail to report will be denied a permit for the next calendar year.

The department urges dipnetters to respect the rights of private landowners in the area and familiarize themselves with the land ownership in the area before fishing. For information on access across private lands contact Chitina Native Corporation at (907) 823-2223 or Ahtna, Inc at (907) 822-3476.

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.

In addition to being posted online, the most current fishing schedule is available on the Chitina Fishery information line at 822-5224 (Glennallen), 459-7382 (Fairbanks), and 267-2511 (Anchorage). Please verify that the fishery is open prior to traveling by calling an information line or checking online. 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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