Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak
The king salmon escapement fell below the biological escapement goal (BEG) of 4,800 - 8,400 fish with a weir count of 590 king salmon. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 22, 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 and the 2023 weir count was the lowest in recent history.
A preseason emergency order effective April 3, 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 | 590 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 590 |
The king salmon escapement was below the BEG of 3,000 - 6,000 fish with a weir count of 378 king salmon. The Karluk River king salmon escapement 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 22, which is similar to historical run-timing. The 2023 weir count was the lowest in recent history. 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 April 3, 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 | 378 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 378 |
The king salmon escapement fell below the BEG of 1,300 - 2,700 fish with a weir count of 267 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.
A preseason emergency order was issued effective April 3 to restrict the Chignik River to non-retention for king salmon and restrict tackle to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure. On July 5, the Chignik River was closed to king salmon fishing and bait and tackle restrictions remained in place.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 1,300-2,700 |
| Estimated Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 267 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 267 |
The weir count for king salmon was 4,078 fish. This was within the BEG of 2,400 - 4,400 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 7, 2023, which is slightly earlier than historical run timing.
No management actions were implemented during the 2023 sport fishery season.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 2,400 to 5,000 |
| Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 4,078 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 4,078 |
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 low returns in 2023 and there was little harvest in this fishery. Very few fish were observed at the Olds and American rivers or at Salonie Creek. Egg take goals were not met this year with only 22 spawning pairs collected. To compensate for this shortfall, coho salmon will be stocked to supplement king salmon production. The 2023 king salmon egg take should produce about 120,000 smolt and though this is far short of the goal to release 200,000 king salmon smolt, it is much higher than most recent years. Coho salmon will be taken again from Pillar Creek in early November to supplement this shortfall.
No management actions were implemented during the 2023 sport fishery season.
The early sockeye salmon escapement fell within the BEG of 150,000 - 250,000 fish with a weir count of 182,172 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 Island.
No management actions were implemented during the 2023 sport fishery season.
The early sockeye salmon escapement fell within the BEG of 140,000 - 280,000 fish with a weir count of 200,143 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 2023 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the BEG of 75,000 - 170,000 fish with a count of 100,477 sockeye salmon at the Frazer Lake fish pass. 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 2023 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon escapement was below the BEG of 5,000 - 8,000 fish with a weir count of just 1,755 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 19, which is typical for this run.
On June 17, sport fishing for sockeye salmon in the Buskin River was closed for the remainder of the season.
The sockeye salmon escapement was above the BEG of 15,000 - 35,000 fish with a weir count of 47,936 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 27, which is later than historical run timing but similar to the last 5 years. This is the largest freshwater sport fishery on Kodiak by harvest for a single stock. The 2023 run was still ongoing at the time the weir was pulled in mid-August.
On July 20, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limits were increased to 10 fish in the Saltery Cove Drainage.
The sockeye salmon escapement was above the lower bound sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 3,000 fish with a weir count of 4,345 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 23, which is later than historical run timing but similar to the previous 5 years.
On July 14, the Pasagshak River drainage was closed to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
On July 27, the Pasagshak River drainage was reopened to sport fishing for sockeye salmon and bag limits were restored.
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the BEG of 20,000 - 50,000 fish with a weir count of 35,559 sockeye salmon. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 24 which is later than historical run timing.
No management actions were implemented during the 2023 sport fishery season.
The SEG for Buskin River coho salmon is 4,700 - 9,600 fish and the 2023 run is ongoing. The mid-point of the run typically occurs in the third week of September and the current weir count as of September 25, is 577 fish.
No management actions were implemented during the 2023 sport fishery season to date as weir counts have been driven primarily by a lack of rain for the month of September.
The lower bound SEG for Olds River coho salmon is 500 fish and the 2023 run is ongoing. The 2023 run appears to be average or above average so far, though no surveys have been conducted to date. The Olds River coho salmon run is assessed via in season drone surveys, though conditions have been poor to get reliable survey estimates. Final escapement estimates will be documented via post season foot surveys in late October or November.
No management actions have been implemented during the 2023 sport fishery season so far.
The lower bound SEG for American River coho salmon is 400 fish and the 2023 run is ongoing. The 2023 run appears to be average or above 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 2023 sport fishery season so far.
The lower bound SEG for Pasagshak River coho salmon is 1,200 fish and the 2023 run is ongoing. The 2023 run appears to be well above average and seeing a strong run. The latest drone survey counted 7,532 coho salmon in Lake Rose Teed. The Pasagshak River coho salmon run is assessed via in season drone surveys but final escapement estimates will be documented via post season foot surveys in November.
No management actions have been implemented during the 2023 sport fishery season so far.