Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 30, 2017

Week of June 29 to July 5

Emergency Orders and Regulation Reminders

• The bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length in the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage were reduced from two per day, only one of which may be greater than 28 inches in length, to one per day, 20 inches or greater in length. In addition, the annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage was reduced from four to two fish. The bag and possession limit for king salmon less than 20 inches remains at five fish, no annual limit. These restrictions are effective beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2017.

Up to two king salmon recorded before Friday, June 23, on the harvest portion of an Alaska sport fishing license or harvest record card do not count against the two king salmon 20 inches or greater in length that may be harvested on or after June 23.

These restrictions are made in accordance with 5 AAC 06.361 Nushagak/Mulchatna King Salmon Management Plan as adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries. To ensure that the projected spawning escapement does not fall below 55,000 fish, the plan directs the department to restrict the king salmon sport fishery in the Nushagak River when the department projects the total inriver run will be less than 70,000 fish. Through June 20, 2017, approximately 22% into the run, an estimated 2,832 king salmon have passed the Portage Creek sonar. Therefore, the department is unable to project at this date that the inriver run of king salmon will exceed 70,000 fish. Due to the low inriver projections, a conservative approach is warranted to reduce the Nushagak River drainage sport harvest.

• The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is increasing the bag limit for sockeye salmon from five (5) to ten (10) per day, ten (10) in possession in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage, excluding the Wood River drainage, effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 30, 2017. The bag limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five (5) per day, five (5) in possession. These limits are in combination with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.

The escapement of sockeye salmon in the Nushagak River has exceeded the escapement goal of 370,000 to 900,000 fish. Through June 28, 2017, nearly one million sockeye salmon have been counted at the Portage Creek sonar. Therefore, it is warranted to increase the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon in the Nushagak-Mulchatna River sport fishery.

Freshwaters

King Salmon

• Naknek drainage:
  • Sport fishing is currently reported as good and should remain steady throughout this week.
• Nushagak drainage:
  • The bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length in the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage are reduced from two per day, only one of which may be greater than 28 inches in length, to one per day, 20 inches or greater in length. In addition, the annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage is reduced from four to two fish. The bag and possession limit for king salmon less than 20 inches remains at five fish, no annual limit. These restrictions are effective beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2017 (see above).
  • Sport fishing is currently reported as good to very good.
  • The sonar near Portage Creek has been operational since June 7, 2017. A total of 32,445 king salmon have been counted by the sonar through June 28. Although daily counts have recently increased, the cumulative count remains well behind desired levels. Management will be in accordance with the Nushagak/Mulchatna King Salmon Management Plan. Anglers are advised to call the area office in Dillingham at (907) 842-2427 for the latest developments in this fishery.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages:
  • Sport fishing is currently reported as good to excellent and should remain good throughout this week.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
  • Fishing is reported as fair to good this week.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages:
  • Fishing should be good.
• Wood River Lakes system:
  • Fishing remains very good to excellent in and at the outlets of larger tributaries of the lakes.

Northern Pike

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages:
  • Fishing is reported as fair.
• Wood River Lake system:
  • Fishing is fair along lake and slough shores and in shallow weedy bays.

Saltwaters

Halibut

• Nushagak Bay
  • Sport fishing should be fair off the coast of Protection Point