Fisheries, Subsistence, and Habitat
Publications Searchable Database
Search Again| Division: | Sport Fish |
| Title: | Contributions of coded wire tagged Chinook salmon stocks to the early-run marine sport fishery in Cook Inlet, 1999 through 2001 |
| Author: | Begich, R. N |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Report ID: | Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 07-54, Anchorage |
| Abstract: | Coded wire tag recoveries from Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha were used to estimate the contribution of tagged stocks to the early-run mixed-stock recreational fishery in Cook Inlet, Alaska from 1999 through 2001. The focus of the study was to address concern surrounding the origin of the Chinook salmon harvest and to evaluate harvests of several wild and hatchery Cook Inlet stocks. Maturity, ocean age, distance from shore when hooked, and location by statistical area of the harvest were also estimated. Each year we examined an average of approximately 41% of the estimated early-run harvest that averaged 4,450 fish. Tagged stocks contributed an estimated 14.2%, 12.6% and 22.2% to the harvest during 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. Origin of the coded wire tagged harvest was of a broad Pacific Northwest distribution. Coded wire tagged non-Alaska stocks accounted for an average of 6% of the harvest, and tagged Cook Inlet stocks made up on average 7.2%. During 1999, 79% (SE = 1%) of harvested female Chinook salmon were spring spawners based on egg-size diameter, 61% (SE = 2%) in 2000, and 51% (SE = 2%) in 2001. The majority of the Chinook salmon harvest consisted of 3- and 4-ocean fish; these two age groups combined constituted approximately 77% to 88% of the harvest over 3 years. About 70% of Chinook salmon harvested were hooked within ¼ mile of shore and an average of 81% of the Chinook salmon harvest was in statistical area 244-70 over 3 years. Our data suggest that the vast majority of Chinook salmon classified as mature were of Cook Inlet origin and those classified as immature were from outside Cook Inlet. We found 91% of the Cook Inlet tag recoveries were classified as spring spawners over the 3-year study, while only 7% of the non-Alaska fish were classified as spring or fall spawners. |
| Keywords: | Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, Cook Inlet, early run, cohort, stock, origin, coded wire tag, adipose finclip, maturity |