Fish & Game double-standard for Mat-Su king salmon management

Many fisherman know that both the Northern District commercial set net fishery and the Mat-Su Valley sport fishery were restricted by emergency order regulations during 2015 in an effort to conserve wild king salmon. On the Susinta Drainage upstream of Dehska River all sport king salmon fishing started and remains limited to catch and release fishing. In the Deshka River, Yentna River Drainage, and Little Susitna River the annual sport fishing bag limit was reduced from five to two king salmon, and those regulations remain in effect. In addition, all Mat-Su sport fisheries for wild king salmon were restricted to single hook artificial lures and harvest was only allowed four days per week on the Yentna River Drainage and three days per week on the Little Susitna River. Emergency restrictions for the commercial fishery included no fishing during the first period in May, then a reduction of fishing time from 12 hours to six hours for four consecutive Monday Fishing periods during June (a 60 percent reduction in total fishing time).

When king salmon passage through Deshka River weir showed the minimum king salmon escapement goal would be obtained at that location, the department (ADF&G) reopened the Deshka River sport fishery to bait and the use of multiple hooks, but kept the seasonal limit reduced at two king salmon. For the commercial fishery ADF&G removed all remaining emergency hour restrictions.

If attaining minimum Deshka River king salmon escapement is justification for removing all remaining emergency restrictions for the Northern District commercial fishery — then why does the same Department continue to restrict Mat-Su king salmon sport fisheries for conservation issues?

Why is ADF&G allocating commercial king salmon harvests preference over sport fishery king salmon harvests? Why is ADF&G giving management preference to commercial users who pay no king salmon conservation fees over those fishers required to purchase a king salmon stamp even to participate in a catch and release fishery?

Those are questions I am asking our Mat-Su political delegation. If you are concerned with the status of Mat-Su king salmon and Mat-Su king salmon sport fisheries then I encourage you bring forward your views or questions. Government representatives need to know your concerns in order to represent your interests.

Some Little Susitna River restrictions lifted

After attaining the minimum desired level of king salmon escapement through the Little Susitna River weir ADF&G issued an emergency order that will restore the use of multiple hooks and seven-day per week king salmon harvest opportunity to the Little Susitna River sport fishery starting today. The seasonal limit of two fish harvest remains in effect. Going back to ADF&G’s double standard of king salmon management — if the department has already attained necessary spawning numbers, and if the commercial fishery is restored to full harvest opportunity, why does the two-fish annual sport harvest restriction remain in effect on Little Susitna River?

Why is ADF&G treating sport fishermen as second-class citizens?

Willow-area fire slows Susitna Drainage fisheries

Over the past week emergency response to the Sockeye Fire near Willow has greatly restricted residents’ and visitors’ ability to access and participate in sport fisheries between Willow and Talkeetna, and also including the Deshka River king salmon fishery. When I talked with Margo Nealis of Phantom Tri River Charters on Thursday she said they had made the change from Deshka king salmon fishing charters where harvest is allowed to fishing the Talkeetna River where king salmon fishing is on a catch and release only basis. Margo did mention that they had been catching some king salmon, but that water conditions were less than ideal in the Talkeetna River at this time. King salmon should likely arrive at Clear Creek soon.

Joe Wright told me Deshka Landing was not officially open, but that members were allowed access at this time. He did not expect the landing to officially reopen until travel restrictions were lifted from along the Parks Highway. A pilot vehicle has been leading a few vehicles at a time followed by a trooper vehicle to ensure travelers stay on the Parks Highway heading through the fire area.

Eklutna youth fishery

This event is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Eklutna Tailrace on Saturday. My wife and I were out to the fishery on Thursday and people were catching some nice king salmon. Remember that the area from the pedestrian bridge downstream to the tailrace’s confluence with the Knik River is reserved for anglers under that age of 16 during this Youth Fishing Day. While at the tailrace we saw king salmon caught on both salmon roe and spinners. Nearly all of the king salmon we saw caught were in the 20 pounds or less category, with quite a few jack kings under 20 inches in length. Many Mat-Su Valley king salmon fisheries are now providing some of their best king salmon catching opportunities of the season.

See you on the water.

Andy Couch has guided sport fishing trips in the Mat-Su Valley for over 30 years. Visit his Fishtale River Guides website at www.fish4salmon.com