Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak
PDF of Summary, which includes tables of Escapement Goals and Escapements (2013-2022).
The king salmon run fell below the biological escapement goal (BEG) of 4,800 - 8,400 fish with a weir count of 2,845 king salmon. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 20, which is similar to historical run timing. The Ayakulik River king salmon run has seen declines since 2006 and was designated as a stock of concern by the Board of Fisheries in 2020. The escapement objectives have been met some years; however, in the most recent years the escapement objectives have not been met. In some years, a significant portion of the estimated daily fish passage numbers occurs during the king salmon run when the weir is flooding.
A preseason emergency order effective June 1, 2022, closed king salmon fishing on the Ayakulik River drainage and only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure was allowed.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 4,800-8,400 |
| Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 2,845 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 2,845 |
The king salmon run was below the BEG of 3,000 - 6,000 fish with a weir count of 2,629 king salmon. The Karluk River king salmon run has been below the BEG most of the last 20 years, though the goal was achieved from 2018-2020. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 18, which is similar to historical run-timing. The Karluk River has not been open to the harvest of king salmon since 2007 and sport fishing for king salmon has been entirely closed since 2008.
A preseason emergency order effective June 1, 2022, closed the Karluk River drainage to sport fishing for king salmon and only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure was allowed.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 3,000 to 6,000 |
| Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 2,629 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 2,629 |
The king salmon run fell below the BEG of 1,300 - 2,700 fish with a weir count of 761 king salmon and was the lowest weir count in recent history. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 16, which is similar to historical run timing.
On July 11, 2022, the Chignik River was closed to king salmon fishing and only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure was allowed.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 1,300-2,700 |
| Estimated Total Harvest | 100 |
| Weir Count | 761 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 661 |
The 2022 weir count for king salmon was 3,785 fish. This was within the BEG of 2,400 - 5,000 salmon. There is no retention in this fishery throughout the season based on regulations enacted in 2011. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 16, 2022, which is similar to historical run timing.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 2,400 to 5,000 |
| Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 3,785 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 3,785 |
Each year the Olds River, American River, and/or Salonie Creek are stocked with up to 80,000 king salmon smolt. The stocked Kodiak road system streams had very low returns in the 2022 season and there was little harvest in this fishery. Very few fish were observed at the Olds and American River or at Salonie Creek. Egg take goals were not met this year with only 2 spawning pairs collected. To compensate for this shortfall, coho salmon will be stocked to supplement king salmon production. The 2022 king salmon egg take should produce about 10,000 smolt, though this is far short of the goal to release 200,000 king salmon smolt. Coho salmon will be taken again from Pillar Creek in early November to supplement this shortfall.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
The early sockeye salmon run fell within the BEG of 150,000 - 250,000 fish with a weir count of 175,336 sockeye salmon. Little harvest occurs upstream of the weir and escapement is likely equal to the weir count. Harvest of sockeye salmon by anglers on the Karluk River is minimal compared to the size of the run but it remains one of the larger sockeye salmon sport fisheries on Kodiak.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
The early sockeye salmon run fell within the BEG of 140,000 - 280,000 fish with a weir count of 251,690 sockeye salmon. Harvest of sockeye salmon by anglers on the Ayakulik River is minimal compared to the size of the run but it is also one of the larger sockeye salmon sport fisheries on Kodiak.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon run was within the BEG of 75,000 - 170,000 fish with a count of 118,509 sockeye salmon at the Frazer Lake fish pass where escapement estimates are derived. Harvest of sockeye salmon by anglers on the Dog Salmon River downstream of the fish pass is minimal compared to the size of the run but it is also one of the larger sockeye salmon sport fisheries on Kodiak.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon run was above the BEG of 5,000 - 8,000 fish with a weir count of 8,121 sockeye salmon. No harvest occurs upstream of the weir which is located just downstream from Buskin Lake and escapement is equal to the weir count. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 28, which is much later than historical run timing though similar to several recent years.
On June 9, 2022, fishing for sockeye salmon in the Buskin River was closed.
On June 30, 2022, fishing for sockeye salmon in the Buskin River was reopened.
The sockeye salmon run was within the BEG of 15,000 - 35,000 fish with a weir count of 25,615 sockeye salmon. No harvest occurs upstream of the weir and escapement is equal to the weir count. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 16, which is similar to historical run timing. This is the largest freshwater sport fishery on Kodiak by harvest for a single stock. The 2022 run was ongoing at the time the weir was pulled in early August.
On July 21, 2022, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limits was increased to 10 fish in the Saltery River.
The sockeye salmon run was above the lower bound sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 3,000 fish with a weir count of 4,377 sockeye salmon. No harvest occurs upstream of the weir and escapement is equal to the weir count. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 26, 2022, which is later than historical run timing.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon run was within the BEG of 20,000 - 50,000 fish with a weir count of 29,509 sockeye salmon. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 2, 2022 and was later than historical run timing.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
The SEG for Buskin River coho salmon is 4,700 - 9,600 fish and the 2022 run is ongoing. The midpoint of the run typically occurs in the third week of September and the current weir count as of September 27th, is 2,526 fish.
The Buskin River was closed to fishing for coho salmon effective September 22, 2022.
The lower bound SEG for Olds River coho salmon is 500 fish and the 2021 run is ongoing. The 2021 run is expected to be above the range and the run appears to be strong, though no surveys have been conducted yet and reports are from staff and angler observations only. The Olds River coho salmon run is assessed via in season drone surveys, though conditions were poor for surveys this season. Final escapement estimates will be documented via post season foot surveys in late October or November.
No management actions have been implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season so far.
The lower bound SEG for American River coho salmon is 400 fish and the 2022 run is ongoing. The 2022 run appears to be below average so far, though no surveys have been conducted to date. The American River coho salmon run is assessed via in season drone surveys, though conditions have been poor to get reliable survey estimates to date. Final escapement estimates will be documented via post season foot surveys in late October or November.
No management actions have been implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season so far.
The lower bound SEG for Pasagshak River coho salmon is 1,200 fish and the 2022 run is ongoing. The 2022 run appears to be average or slightly below average. The latest drone survey counted 1,457 coho salmon in Lake Rose Teed. The Pasagshak River coho salmon run is assessed via in season drone surveys. Final escapement estimates will be documented via post season foot surveys in November.
No management actions have been implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season so far.
