Fish and game announces limited chances for kings

While the Valley is not expected to see any king salmon fishing activity this year, there are other areas in Southcentral that are planning to hold some limited king salmon sportfishing opportunity and allow a limited harvest. You will have to drive a couple hundred miles to take advantage of these possible opportunities, however.

Earlier this week, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Sport Fish Division released an announcement that the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River drainages and marine waters south of the Ninilchik River to Bluff Point will have a limited opportunity to harvest king salmon from April 1 through July 1, 2019.

According to the announcement, “A combined annual limit has been established to (sic) two king salmon 20 inches or greater in length for fish harvested in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Ninilchik River, and all marine waters south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River (60° 03.99' N. lat.) to the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00' N. lat.).”

The announcement further explains that, “‘It is necessary to combine the annual limit in all three streams and marine waters south of the Ninilchik River to Bluff Point in anticipation of increased angler efforts due to conservation efforts implemented on other Cook Inlet king salmon sport fisheries,’ stated Carol Kerkvliet (the area Sport Fish Management Biologist).”

King salmon sport fishing on the Anchor River will only be allowed on: May 25-27, June 1-3, and June 8-10. Sport fishing gear is restricted on the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and the Ninilchik River drainages to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure. Further restrictions on the Ninilchik River only allow one hatchery king salmon as the bag and possession limit.

The bag and possession limit restrictions also affect the Ninilchik River Youth-Only Fishery on Wednesday June 5, 2019. Youth anglers under 16 years of age may only harvest one hatchery-reared king salmon of any size. Hatchery-reared king salmon are recognized by the healed adipose fin-clip scar. Wild king salmon have an adipose fin and may not be removed from the water and, if hooked and landed, must be release immediately.

If you think you might want to fight the crowds and participate in this limited opportunity, I would recommend you contact ADF&G’s Sport Fish Division in Homer at (907) 235-8191 and ask questions and become clear on what will be allowed and what won’t. It would be a real bummer to drive all the way down there and then be cited because you didn’t follow the rules!

I mentioned last week that a group of folks objected to the scheduled lake trout ice fishing derby scheduled for Lake Louise on two weekends during the end of March and in mid-April. Two representatives did attend the borough’s Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting to raise their objections. We had earlier received an email from the Glennallen area sport fish biologist explaining that ADF&G had no data indicating the derby would have a negative effect on the conservation of lake trout and other species in the lake.

One representative said ADF&G had insufficient date to make that statement. When asked what data he had supporting that ADF&G was wrong in their assessment, he had none. The short version is that it appears the local folks just object to a bunch of non-locals descending on “their” lake and catching fish.

I can appreciate the local folks’ feelings here, but those feelings hardly justify stopping the fishing tournament. I felt “put upon” by deer hunters coming in to hunt “my” area on Afognak Island when I lived there, but I couldn’t stop them! The suggestion was made that the group might want to develop and submit a proposal to the Board of Fisheries which would have the Lake Louise lake trout population managed as a trophy fishery. They could also submit a proposal barring any fishing tournaments because of the relatively slow growth and few numbers of lake trout in that lake.

There are several ways they could have the BOF, by regulation, stop any future fishing tournaments on Lake Louise through various proposals, but they would need to show real conservation concerns or other situations which would justify the board taking that type of action.

By the time you see this, I should be home beginning physical therapy for a “new,” rebuilt right knee. I’m looking forward to having a functional, pain-free leg once again. I’ve got that Talkeetna Mountains caribou permit to use this fall!