How will the 2022 Mat-Su king salmon sport fishery start?

I was shopping at the Palmer Fred Meyer's when a person recognized me as the writer of this fishery column and asked, “ What will our Mat-Su king salmon fishery be like in 2023?”

“Limited,” is likely the best one-word answer. Mat-Su Anglers may remember that during the past season (2022), king (Chinook) salmon harvest within the Mat-Su Valley was allowed only at the small Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River fishing area targeting hatchery-stocked fish. While Deshka River and other locations within the Susitna River drainage were open to catch and release fishing for a portion of the 2022 season no harvest was allowed. Little Susitna River was also open to catch and release fishing for king salmon last summer with no harvest allowed — Before it was closed to all king salmon fishing by emergency order on June 20. The Susitna River drainage was also closed in two stages to all king salmon fishing before the normal king salmon season closure date on July 14. In addition, waters normally open to king salmon fishing in the Susitna River drainage and Little Susitna River were also restricted to single-hook artificial lures only from May 1 — July 13.

Even with those restrictions and closures last season, the only Mat-Su location I can recall meeting an Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) established Chinook Salmon escapement goal was Little Susitna River where the bottom end of the 2,100 — 4,300 spawning escapement goal was achieved on July 7. Total king salmon counted through Little Susitna weir was only 2,237 for the entire season.

The Deshka River goal of 9,000 — 18,000 king salmon was not met, with the final season tally through the weir 5, 436. The 2022 Deshka River escapement was also lacking in older age-class, larger more fecund king salmon which on good returns often make up the majority of the return. I’ve been talking with Sam Ivey and Samantha Oslund (fisheries biologists in the Palmer ADF&G office) about this year’s king salmon expectations, and as of Tuesday February 28, no official king salmon regulations to start the 2023 season had been determined. I was told that a decision should be out later this week (perhaps even before this column is printed). The Department’s 2023 Deshka River king salmon Forecast calls for a total return of age 1.1 — 1.4 year king salmon of 7, 243 fish (1,757 fish below the lower threshold of the Deshka escapement goal). Considering low king salmon escapements throughout the Mat-Su last season (and to a lesser extent for the past decade), and even factoring in possible error level in the 2023 forecast, the only responsible management option appears to be emergency restrictions and / or closures.

As occurred last season I would expect a small Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River side - channel fishery to remain open to king salmon harvest, otherwise, Mat-Su Anglers hoping to harvest one or more ocean-run king salmon in Alaska during the 2023 season may have plenty of time to consider their travel options. Expect an update or news announcement concerning Northern Cook Inlet Management Area king salmon regulations shortly.

Fish On!