Region 1-Southeast News Release
(Released: July 07, 2005)
Contact:
Brian Glynn
Juneau Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 465-4320
July 07, 2005
A small saltwater area of Auke Bay, immediately off the mouth of Auke Creek, will be closed to snagging or attempting to snag fish beginning 12:01 A.M. Saturday, July 9, 2005 and remain closed through Wednesday, August 31, 2005. Fish unintentionally hooked elsewhere than in the mouth must be released immediately. The use of weighted hooks and lures, except those lures of standard manufacture, and the use of treble hooks with a gap between the point and shank that is larger than one-half inch, will also be prohibited.
These regulations will be in effect inside of a boundary line extending from the Auke Bay Laboratory's boat dock south to the nearest of the two orange floating markers that indicate the location of the University of Alaska’s saltwater intake pipe, then extending on to the second of the two orange markers, and finally extending to a department regulatory sign located on the Fritz Cove Road shoreline just south of the mouth of Auke Creek.
This action is necessary to protect adult sockeye salmon returning to the waters of Auke Bay and the Auke Lake system, which are both closed to sockeye salmon harvest. Although sockeye salmon harvest is already prohibited in this saltwater area, many anglers attempting to snag hatchery-released king salmon are incidentally snagging sockeye salmon. Harvesting sockeye salmon in this area is in violation of the existing regulation. Anglers snagging or attempting to snag fish in this area will be in violation of this emergency order.
For additional information, anglers should call the Division of Sport Fish office in Douglas at (907) 465-4270.
