King sport fish regs announced

MAT-SU — Alaska Department of Fish and Game released the 2015 regulations governing king salmon sport fishing for the Susitna and Little Susitna River drainages, which will remain nearly the same as the 2014 rules.

The only significant change involves splitting the Deshka River regulations out from the overall Susitna River drainage requirements.

These regulations will take effect on May 1, 2015, for Units 1-6 in the Susitna River drainage (a description of these waters is contained in the current Southcentral Sport Fishing regulations booklet) and the Little Susitna River. They are in addition to the regulations printed in the sport fishing regulation booklet, i.e., hour restrictions and closed waters. These regulations will remain in effect for the entire king salmon season unless changed through the Emergency Order process.

The announced regulations are as follows:

• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed.

• Harvest is allowed on the Deshka River (Unit 1), and on specific days within the Yentna River drainage (Unit 4), except for the Talachulitna River.

• King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited within Unit 1 (except on Deshka River), on the Parks Highway streams within Unit 2, the upper Susitna (Unit 3), Talachulitna River (Unit 4), Talkeetna River (Unit 5), and Chulitna River (Unit 6).

• King salmon harvest in the Little Susitna River is restricted to Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays only.

• Annual limit of two (2) king salmon 20 inches or longer.

• Upon harvesting a king salmon over 20 inches in length, a person may not fish for any species of fish on the same day in flowing waters open to king salmon in the Susitna River drainage and the Knik Arm drainages.

• The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all restrictions.

Only a hook with a single point (no treble hooks) and no bait will be legal. The only days and places where king salmon can be legally harvested are on the Deshka River (seven days a week); specific days (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays) on Yentna River drainages (Unit 4), except the Talachulitna River; and Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays on the Little Susitna River. Catch and release will be allowed on the days when retention of king salmon is not allowed. King salmon intended to be released may not be removed from the water.

The annual limit of two fish longer than 20 inches applies to any combination of fish harvested from both the Susitna and Little Susitna River drainages. If you fish for kings in other fresh water drainages around Cook Inlet, the annual bag limit remains at five kings, but only two of those can come from the Susitna or Little Susitna drainages.

If you plan to fish any of the eastside Parks Highway (Unit 2) waters where king salmon fishing will be catch and release only, angling for trout and other species will not be affected. The regulations for pursuing these fish are contained in the regulation booklet.

The Eklutna Tailrace is not affected by these changes. The tailrace is an entirely artificial fishery supported by hatchery stockings. There are no spawning areas for the fish and the department intention is to provide the public the opportunity to harvest a king salmon without impacting wild stocks of fish. As a result, Eklutna will be open all day, every day with a five fish annual bag limit. Bait also will be legal at Eklutna.

In the 2014 season, the regulations for the Susitna River drainages were written as a package. When management of the Deshka king salmon returns allowed relaxation of restrictions, the entire package had to be voided and a new emergency order issued with much repetition of language. This year, while the regulations are the same, the Deshka River is being handled as a separate emergency order, allowing greater flexibility in issuing in-season emergency order management decisions.

Quoting from one of the emergency orders as to why these regulations were issued, “Susitna River king salmon and other king salmon stocks throughout Cook Inlet are experiencing a period of low productivity and, since 2007, below average run strength. The department monitors escapement on 24 streams within the Northern Cook Inlet Area, of which 17 have established escapement goals. King salmon counts have been below average since 2007.”

The release continues, “Fewer than half the escapement goals were achieved from 2008 to 2012. The preseason strategy implemented in 2013 and 2014 reduced harvest by 70 percent in the Susitna River tributaries… This reduction is expected to provide the greatest potential for achieving escapement goals during 2015 yet continue to provide fishing opportunity throughout the season.”

Stop by the Palmer Fish and Game office if you would like to see the four emergency orders and the news release covering these regulation changes.

For more information, contact 746-6300.