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Districts Affected: Upper Yukon River
The Pilot Station sonar estimated passage through August 23 is 206,000 fall chum and 141,000 coho salmon. The coho salmon passage estimate is tracking above average. Unfortunately, the fall chum salmon run has not materialized as expected with the current sonar passage estimate dropping to the lowest on record for this date since 1995. The average three quarter point in the fall chum salmon run timing was August 17 at the sonar project. The Yukon River Drainage Fall Chum Salmon Management Plan specifies a minimum drainage wide escapement goal of 300,000 fall chum salmon. The likelihood of achieving a run size much greater than 300,000 this late in the season decreases with each passing day.

Therefore, based on the current abundance and in accordance with the management plan, subsistence fishing time is being reduced along the Yukon River in an effort to achieve the drainage wide escapement goal while continuing to provide opportunity to harvest the abundant coho salmon where they are available. Similar management actions are intended to be applied as the salmon migration continues upstream. Subsistence salmon fishing dates and times, in the main river portion of District 4, will be reduced to the following schedule of two 32-hour periods each week:

In District 4, subsistence salmon fishing will close at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, August 27. Subsistence salmon fishing will then reopen at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, August 30 on a reduced fishing schedule of two 32-hour periods per week. Periods will be open from 10:00 a.m. Sundays until 6:00 p.m. Mondays and from 10:00 a.m. Wednesdays until 6:00 p.m. Thursdays.

In the Koyukuk River, subsistence salmon fishing is open 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

In the Yukon River, subsistence fishing for salmon must be stopped during subsistence salmon fishing closures. Subsistence fishing for non-salmon species, such as whitefish, sheefish, and pike, remains open 7 days per week throughout the drainage. Gillnets used for harvesting non-salmon species during salmon fishing closures are restricted to a maximum mesh size of 4-inches and 60 feet or less in length. During closed subsistence salmon fishing periods fish wheels may not be operated.

For a recording of the current fishing schedule for your area call 1-866-479-7387. If you have any questions regarding this report, please call the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks at 459-7274 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Fairbanks at 455-1849.

This has been an announcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.