Fish Creek dipnet fishery opens Wednesday

The Fish Creek personal use dipnet fishery will open at 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, and close at 11 p.m. Monday, July 31, according to a Tuesday news release from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Dipnetting for salmon will be allowed only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day.

According to Fish and Game, all salmon species, except king salmon, may be retained. Any king salmon caught must be released immediately. The area open to dipnetting is from ADF&G regulatory markers located on both sides of the terminus of Fish Creek, upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately one-quarter mile upstream from Knik-Goose Bay Road. Dipnetting is allowed from a boat or from the shore.

“The escapement goal for Fish Creek sockeye salmon is 15,000 - 45,000 fish as measured at a weir located upstream of the fishery. As of July 23, 2017, more than 16,770 sockeye salmon have passed through the Fish Creek weir,” according to the news release. “Based on these weir counts, the department is projecting a total escapement of more than 35,000 sockeye salmon. Therefore, it is justified to allow a personal use dip net fishery for salmon on Fish Creek.”

A 2017 Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit is required to dipnet salmon at Fish Creek and only Alaska residents holding valid sport fishing licenses, or ADF&G Permanent Identification Cards (senior license), or ADF&G Disabled Veteran's licenses may participate in this fishery. The Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit is the same permit used in the Kenai and Kasilof dip net fisheries.

Permits can be obtained online on the ADF&G website.

“Some vendors are running low on the Upper Cook Inlet personal use permits and it is recommended that dipnetters get their permits online,” according to Fish and Game. “Dipnetters can also report their harvest online.”

Participants are allowed to harvest up to 25 salmon per head of household with 10 additional fish for each household member. Only one Upper Cook Inlet personal use permit is allowed per household. Participants must carry their permits while dipnetting, clip off both tips of the tail fin of every fish harvested, and record their harvest on their dip net permit before concealing the salmon from view or transporting the salmon from the fishing site.