Crabbers Asked NOT to Set Crab Pots in Kachemak Bay, Alaska August 15-29
August 14, 2008
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), will be conducting a sonar survey to provide detailed bottom and habitat mapping of Kachemak Bay. Two NOAA vessels and launches will be conducting the research. The Department of Fish and Game is requesting that persons participating in the non-commercial fisheries for Tanner crab in Kachemak Bay refrain from setting crab pots in the inner Bay (i.e. inside the Homer Spit), particularly in deep water areas (denoted in map below) between the dates of August 15th and August 29th. This will enable the NOAA research vessel and launches to operate without entangling gear in their sonar equipment. Data from this mapping survey will benefit ADF&G in assessing groundfish and shellfish in Kachemak Bay. The area west of the Homer Spit is not affected by this work. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game greatly appreciates public cooperation during the period of August 15th through August 29th. If you have any questions, please contact the Homer Fish and Game office at 235-8191.
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Pullen Creek Upstream of Broodstock Weir Open to King Salmon Fishing
August 5, 2008
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 2, 2008, Pullen Creek, upstream of Department of Fish and Game markers at Pullen Pond, in Skagway, is open to sport fishing for king salmon. In this area, the bag and possession limit for all anglers (Alaska residents and non-residents) is four king salmon of any size and the nonresident annual limit for king salmon does not apply. This regulation will remain in effect through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 14, 2008. This additional opportunity is being provided to allow harvest of hatchery-produced king salmon released at Pullen Creek where returning king salmon are exceeding broodstock needs.
The department reminds anglers that Pullen Creek downstream of the Department of Fish and Game markers is closed to king salmon fishing. All king salmon entering Pullen Creek are captured at the weir and fish needed for hatchery broodstock are held in net pens located in Pullen Creek. All fish in excess of broodstock needs are released upstream and are available for harvest in Pullen Pond and Pullen Creek upstream of the Department markers.
In past years tampering with the broodstock collection weir has resulted in the release of adult king salmon before enough eggs were collected. Further interference with broodstock collection will result in closing the entire Pullen Creek drainage to king salmon sport fishing and will jeopardize the success of this king salmon enhancement program and the local king salmon fishery.
Anglers sport fishing for king salmon are required to purchase a 2008 king salmon tag in addition to a 2008 sport fishing license. Exceptions to this requirement are listed on page 3 of the Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary.
For additional information contact Richard Chapell, Haines/Skagway Assistant Area Biologist, (907) 766-3638.
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Blind Slough Closes to Sport Fishing and King Salmon Bag Limits Decrease in Wrangell Narrows
July 2, 2008
Petersburg – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish today announced a closure to sport fishing in Blind Slough due to brood stock concerns at the Crystal Lake Hatchery (CLH). The closure includes all waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point, from Friday July 4th through Thursday July 31st, 2008.  Bag and possession limits for king salmon within the Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area (THA) are restricted to two king salmon of any size for the same time period. King salmon caught within the THA do not count toward nonresident annual limits.
Conservation measures will be taken in response to weak returns of king salmon in order to achieve hatchery broodstock goals (500 females and 500 males) at CLH necessary to sustain the hatchery release programs for Blind Slough/Wrangell Narrows and in Anita Bay, near Wrangell. A closure to sport fishing in Blind Slough is needed at this time to prevent additional pre-spawning mortalities in Blind Slough during summer periods of low- and warmer water conditions. Harvest restrictions in the marine waters will allow some harvest, yet allow additional escapement into Blind Slough.Â
Anyone needing further information concerning this announcement should contact the Division of Sport Fish office in Petersburg at (907) 772-5231.
For additional information contact Doug Fleming , Petersburg-Wrangell Area Biologist, (907) 772-5231.
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King Salmon Bag Limits Increased in Two Areas Near Sitka
July 1, 2008
Sitka - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that bag and possession limits are being increased for all anglers (resident and nonresident) in the Hidden Falls and Silver Bay saltwater areas to harvest hatchery-produced king salmon. Beginning 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, the daily bag and possession limit in these areas is two king salmon, any size. King salmon caught in these areas by nonresidents do not count toward the nonresident annual limit. These regulations will remain in effect through July 31, 2008.
Hatchery-produced king salmon are expected to return to Hidden Falls and Medvejie Hatcheries in numbers that exceed hatchery brood stock needs. The Alaska Board of Fisheries authorized the department to increase bag limits and liberalize fishing methods in designated harvest areas to harvest surplus hatchery-produced king salmon. Therefore, the department is increasing the bag limit to provide recreational anglers the opportunity to harvest these hatchery-produced fish. The Hidden Falls area includes waters within two miles of the Baranof Island shoreline south of the range marker on South Point (south entrance to Kelp Bay) and north of a range marker located at 57o 06′ 5’” N latitude (south of Takatz Bay). The Silver Bay saltwater area near Sitka includes the marine waters of Silver Bay east of a line from Entry Point to Silver Point. Anglers fishing in Silver Bay are reminded that all waters east of a line between the commercial fishery regulatory markers at the entrance to Bear Cove are closed to snagging. Any fish hooked elsewhere than in the mouth within this area must be released immediately.
Anglers may not possess king salmon in excess of bag and possession limits for the area where they are fishing and regulations prohibit the possession of king salmon less than 28 inches (residents) and 48 inches (non-residents after July 15) when fishing outside of designated terminal harvest areas. Therefore, anglers possessing king salmon in excess of regional bag and possession limits and/or less than the minimum size harvested in the terminal area, may not fish in areas outside of the Silver Bay and Hidden Falls terminal harvest areas with these king salmon in their possession.Â
Anyone needing further information concerning this announcement contact the Division of Sport Fish in Sitka at (907) 747-5355 or visit:Â Â http://www.state.ak.us/adfg/sportf/region1/r1home.htm
For additional information contact Troy Tydingco, Assistant Sitka Area Management Biologist, (907) 747-5355.
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Situk River King Salmon Sport Fishery to Start With Non Retention For Large Kings in 2008
June 9, 2008
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that any king salmon landed in the Situk River that is 20 inches or greater in length must be immediately released beginning at 12:01a.m., Monday, June 9. The bag limit for king salmon less than 20 inches in length is 10 fish. These regulations will remain in effect until the 2008 large king salmon run strength is determined with more certainty.
The forecast of large king salmon returning to the Situk river in 2008 is 717 large fish (large fish are 3 ocean age and older). The escapement goal range is 450 to 1,050 large king salmon. Based upon this preseason forecast, fishery managers project the actual escapement to be greater than 450 large fish but less than 730 large king salmon. At this escapement projection, the Situk-Ahrnklin Inlet and Lost River King Salmon Fisheries Management Plan directs the department to restrict the sport harvest of king salmon in the Situk River by implementing non retention for large king salmon.
For further information, anglers should call the Division of Sport Fish, at (907) 747-5551.
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King Salmon Bag Limits Increased in Wrangell Narrows - Blind Slough For 2008
May 28, 2008
Petersburg – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish today announced an increase in the bag and possession limit for king salmon in the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area from June 1 through July 31. The sport fishing bag and possession limits for all anglers fishing in this area will be four king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and four king salmon less than 28 inches in length. The Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough terminal harvest area near Petersburg is described as: that portion of Wrangell Narrows, south of 56O 46’ N. latitude (Martinsen’s dock) and east of the longitude, and north of the latitude, of the northern tip (Inlet Point) of Woewodski Island, and; the waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point. King salmon caught by nonresident anglers in the terminal harvest area, June 1 – July 31, do not count toward the 2008 nonresident harvest/annual limits.
The increase in bag and possession limits are justified based on a projected run of Crystal Lake Hatchery king salmon under provisions in the Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area Management Plan (5 AAC 33.381). This plan directs the department to increase the bag limit from June 1 through July 31 when the projected king salmon return to the terminal harvest area is greater than 4,000 fish. The 2008 estimated run is 5,700 king salmon. The nonresident annual limit is repealed in the terminal harvest area based on provisions in the Southeast King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 47.055).Â
Anglers are reminded to observe and follow regulations concerning methods and means for this local sport fishery, which are posted at area boat launches and at access points to Blind Slough.   Anyone needing further information concerning this announcement can contact the Division of Sport Fish, in Petersburg at (907) 772-5231
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Juneau Area Freshwater Streams Open To Fishing For Hatchery King Salmon
May 27, 2008
Juneau – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that king salmon sport fishing regulations, for freshwater drainages crossed by the Juneau road system which are open to sport fishing, will be liberalized to provide recreational anglers additional opportunity to harvest hatchery king salmon. These new regulations will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 1 through Sunday, August 31, 2008.Â
The new harvest limits are as follows:
- The daily bag and possession limit is 4 king salmon, any size.
- King salmon harvested in these freshwater drainages by nonresidents do not count toward their annual limit.
Only a few king salmon may stray into most streams on the Juneau road system; however the department expects that over 500 king salmon will enter Fish Creek on Douglas Island. Therefore, in Fish Creek Pond, regulations that pertain to sport fishing methods and means will be liberalized as follows:
- Use of bait is allowed.
- Use of weighted hooks and lures, and multiple (treble) hooks with a gap greater than ½ inch between the point and shank is allowed.
Anglers may retain king salmon that are hooked elsewhere than in the mouth (snagged).
In the fresh waters of Fish Creek proper (excluding Fish Creek Pond) and in all intertidal waters within a 200 yard radius of the creek mouth as shown on the enclosed map, regional sport fishing methods and means will apply. In these fresh waters, the following is prohibited: the use of bait, weighted hooks and lures, treble hooks with a gap greater than ½ inch between point and shank, attempting to snag fish, and retaining fish hooked elsewhere than in the mouth.
King salmon sport fishing regulations in saltwater areas near Juneau will also be liberalized as described in a separate news release.Â
For additional information contact the nearest ADF&G Division of Sport Fish office or visit: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/EONR/index.cfm
For additional information contact Brian Glynn, (907) 465-4270.
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Juneau Terminal Saltwater Harvest Area Open To Fishing For Hatchery King Salmon
May 27, 2008
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that king salmon sport fishing regulations in the hatchery terminal harvest area (THA) near Juneau will be liberalized, to provide additional opportunity to harvest hatchery king salmon. The new regulations will be in effect in the Juneau THA from 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 1 through Sunday, August 31, 2008.Â
The new regulations in the Juneau THA are as follows:
- The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;
- King salmon harvested in these saltwater areas by nonresidents do not count toward their annual limit.
The department is authorized to liberalize sport fishing regulations in designated harvest areas when the number of returning fish exceeds brood stock needs for the hatchery program.Â
Anglers should note that regional king salmon bag and possession limits for the salt waters outside of the THA are more restrictive than the limits inside the THA; and that regulations prohibit anglers from possessing fish that exceed the limits for the waters where they are fishing or are below the minimum size limits. Therefore, anglers who catch king salmon within the THA may not continue to fish outside of the THA if they possess king salmon that do not comply with the regional king salmon bag and size -limits.
King salmon sport fishing regulations for freshwater drainages on the Juneau road system will also be liberalized as described in a separate news release.
For additional information contact the nearest ADF&G Division of Sport Fish office or visit: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/EONR/index.cfm
For additional information contact Brian Glynn, (907) 465-4270.
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