Region 3-Interior News Release
(Released: January 26, 1998)
Contact:
Tom Taube
January 26, 1998
The Alaska Board of Fisheries recently completed its review of fishing regulations for the Arctic, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Region. During the December 2 through 9, 1997 meeting in Fairbanks, the Board considered 23 proposals for changes to the sport fishing regulations in the Kuskokwim River and waters draining into Kuskokwim Bay. After hearing department reports and public and Advisory Committee testimony, the Board divided into committees to analyze proposals by geographic area and fishery type. Each committee invited Advisory Committee Representatives, interested public, and department staff to participate as an advisory panel. The advisory panels examined the issues thoroughly and when ever possible tried to reach a consensus on recommendations to the full Board. The process allowed more complete discussions of the issues. Four Board-written proposals emerged from the Kuskokwim sport fishery committee and panel work to address the issues raised in the 23 original proposals. Below is a brief summary of regulation changes adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries:
Chinook Salmon
The sport fishing season for chinook (king) salmon opens May 1 and closes July 25 to protect spawning fish. This regulation applies to all drainages in the Kuskokwim River from the Holitna River drainage, downstream, and the drainages of the Kuskokwim Bay south of the Kuskokwim River. Major fisheries affected include the Holitna, Aniak, Kisaralik, Kasigluk, Kwethluk, Kanektok and Goodnews river drainages.
A proposal to limit the annual sport harvest of chinook salmon by nonresident anglers was tabled. The Board will reconsider this issue in January 1999.
The daily bag and possession limits for salmon remain the same as in 1997: chinook, 3 per day only 2 over 28 inches in length; other salmon 5 per day.
* New gear restrictions apply in some waters - see Rainbow Trout section below. Gear restrictions apply to angling for all species in the designated waters.
Resident Species (except rainbow trout).
New daily bag and possession limits for resident species were adopted for all drainages of the Kuskokwim River downstream from the Holitna River drainage, and the drainages of the Kuskokwim Bay south of the Kuskokwim River excluding the Holitna, Kanektok, Arolik, and Goodnews drainages:
Northern pike - 5, only 1 may be larger than 30 inches in length.
Sheefish - 5, no size limit
Arctic grayling - 5, no size limit
Dolly Varden / Arctic char - 5, only 1 larger than 20 inches in length.
In the Holitna, Kanektok, Arolik, and Goodnews river drainages, more restrictive bag limits were adopted:
Sheefish - 2, no size limit
Arctic grayling - 2, no size limit
Dolly Varden / Arctic char - 3, no size limit.
* New gear restrictions apply in some waters - see Rainbow Trout section below.
Rainbow trout
The Board adopted a 5 point proposal addressing rainbow trout management in the Kuskokwim River and Kuskokwim Bay area including: Kisaralik River: sport fishing in waters upstream of the new Akiak village lodge site (approximately 60° 49.5' N. Lat., 160° 55.0' W. Long.) is restricted to unbaited single-hook artificial lures for all species. Rainbow trout may not be retained, all rainbow trout caught must be released immediately (catch-and-release only). Note a previous release listed the wrong latitude and longitude, we apologize for the error.
Kasigluk River: sport fishing is restricted to unbaited single-hook artificial lures for all species. The daily bag and possession limit is 1 rainbow trout 14 inches or less in length.
Kwethluk River: sport fishing in waters upstream of the confluence of the Kwethluk River and Pulamaneq Creek (Pocahontas Creek, 60° 31.96' N. Lat., 161° 05.47' W. Long) near the southwestern base of Three Step Mountain is restricted to unbaited single-hook artificial lures for all species. The daily bag and possession limit is 1 rainbow trout 14 inches or less in length.
Kanektok River: sport fishing is restricted to unbaited single-hook artificial lures in the entire river all year for all species. From June 8 through October 31, rainbow trout may not be retained, all rainbow trout caught must be released immediately (catch-and-release only). From November 1 through June 7 the bag limit is 2 rainbow trout, only 1 may be greater than 20 inches in length.
Goodnews River: sport fishing is restricted to unbaited single-hook artificial lures in the entire river all year for all species. The daily bag and possession limit remains at 2 rainbow trout only 1 may be greater than 20 inches in length. Anglers are advised to become thoroughly familiar with the new regulations before going fishing in 1998. New regulation books are expected to be available in May of 1998. Call 907-842-REGS for information on inseason regulation changes (Emergency Orders).
