Jeff Estensen, Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 543-2433
Fax: (907) 543-2021
Districts Affected: Kuskokwim Bay
This is an announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Bethel for Kuskokwim Area commercial salmon fishermen.
District 4, Quinhagak, will open to commercial salmon fishing for 12 hours from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2009, and again for 12 hours from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2009.
District 5, Goodnews Bay, will open to commercial salmon fishing for 12 hours from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2009, and again for 12 hours from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2009.
Preliminary verbal reports from the commercial period on August 10 in District 4 indicate a harvest of 8 Chinook, 235 sockeye, 377 chum, and 4,572 coho salmon from approximately 87 permit holders. Cumulative harvests through August 10 are 13,967 Chinook, 112,244 sockeye, 90,814 chum, and 22,190 coho salmon . Coho salmon harvest and catch rate for the August 10 period were below average. Escapement at the Kanektok River weir through August 10 is 6,797 Chinook, 277,529 sockeye, 48,037 chum, and 1,649 coho salmon. Current coho salmon abundance in District 4 warrants commercial salmon fishing on Wednesday, August 12, and again on Friday, August 14.
Preliminary verbal reports from the commercial period on August 10 in District 5 indicate a harvest of 0 Chinook, 693 sockeye, 43 chum, and 427 coho salmon from approximately 15 permit holders. Cumulative harvests through August 5 are 1,494 Chinook, 30,379 sockeye, 16,906 chum, and 1,527 coho salmon. The commercial harvest and catch rate for sockeye salmon were above average. Escapement at the Middle Fork Goodnews River weir through August 10 is 1,402 Chinook, 23,767 sockeye, 15,334 chum, and 86 coho salmon. Because of high water level in the Middle Fork Goodnews River, the weir was not operational from July 29 through August 8. Current sockeye salmon abundance in District 5 warrants commercial salmon fishing on Wednesday, August 12, and again on Friday, August 14.
The Department will closely monitor harvest and catch rates from the upcoming commercial periods and will make further announcements regarding additional commercial fishing periods at that time.
For additional information or questions regarding Districts 4 and 5 area fisheries, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in the Bethel at 543-2433.
