King fishing virtually over in the Valley

By Frontiersman staff
Published on Thursday, July 2, 2009 8:43 PM AKDT

MAT-SU — The Parks Highway streams and Little Susitna River are closed for the remainder of the king salmon season.

The affected waterways along the Parks Highway are the Kashwitna River and Willow, Little Willow, Grey’s, Caswell, Sheep, Montana, Goose, Sunshine, Birch Trapper and Rabideux creeks. Additionally, all flowing waters of the Susitna River are closed upstream from its confluence with the Deshka River to its confluence with the Talkeetna River.

The Little Susitna River has been closed from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway. Alaska Department of Fish and Game was worried the closure of the Parks Highway streams would put additional pressure on the river, itself experiencing dismal returns.

Fish and Game issued the closures Tuesday and they take effect Friday at 6 a.m. and continue until July 14, considered the end of the king season. Fish and Game says escapement goals may not be met even with the closures.

“Overall consensus was that fishing has never been this poor,” the press release said.

See Friday’s edition of the Frontiersman for the complete story.

Comments

4 comment(s)

    M Reeves wrote on Jul 2, 2009 7:36 PM:

    " We need to Start cleaning out the F&G board, since it is made up of all comercial fisherman, yea you know were there agenda is, there best intereast. now I wonder will Obama bail out all the fishing guides that are going to have to pay back all the money from booked fishing trips. or how about the state giving back the 10 Bucks for the king tag. "

    Observer wrote on Jul 2, 2009 10:41 AM:

    " Commercial fishing interests have always controlled Alaska state government and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This has occured during both Republican and Democratic administrations. What the Board of Fisheries does not allocate to special interests the Feds give to the foreign fleets. Alaska families who want to fill their freezers for the long winter come in dead last. It is time Alaska families take priority in fish allocation plans. We need a responsible Board of Fisheries who put Alaska families first and politicians who will appoint them. Let's take back OUR fisheries and rebuild the salmon runs!!! "

    jp wrote on Jul 2, 2009 9:48 AM:

    " Blame Obama, he gave half the IFQ's away to japan, and korea "

    Joey Brockhouse wrote on Jul 1, 2009 6:46 PM:

    " We need to get the commercial fishing shut down first before shutting down sport fishing. My family will do without and king salmon is in the store crazy prices.corporations and politicians pockets get full and we go hungry. "

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