Mat-Su coho abundance: Who knows

The next couple weeks should offer some of the best coho salmon fishing of the season in several Mat-Su Valley freshwater fisheries, and especially those closer to saltwater, where coho are migrating from. Little Susitna River appears to be one of the most fished Mat-Su coho salmon fisheries at this point in the season, and although I’ve spent a considerable amount of time on that river, I would characterize the coho salmon fishery as far from a banner year, so far. Salmon of all species were available in catchable numbers earlier in July, than normal for the past several years, however, in my opinion there has been no large abundance of any salmon species at Little Susitna River, through Tuesday July 29.

Commercial Coho Harvests

Commercial harvests by the drift gillnet fishery in the Central District of Upper Cook Inlet had exceeded 73,000 coho salmon through Monday July 28, however commercial coho harvests by Northern District commercial set netters were posted at slightly more than 2,500 for the same time period. NOTE: Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) commercial regulation announcements have allowed Northern District set netting from July 20 - 28 at a level that historically has resulted in either Northern Cook Inlet coho and / or sockeye salmon abundance shortages that have caused later season harvest restrictions and / or closures for both inriver and commercial users groups.

So far Chelatna Lake and Fish Creek already appear to have met their sockeye salmon spawning escapement goals, however, Deshka River coho salmon abundance as measured through the Deshka Weir has been dismal through July 28.

Deshka River Weir coho counts are a primary ADF&G inseason assessment tool for measuring coho salmon abundance for the entire Susitna River drainage.

Forecasted rain for Wednesday July 30 could spur inriver coho salmon migrations, but through July 28 ADF&G posted salmon abundances passing Mat-Su weirs are: Deshka coho —40; Jim Creek coho — 34; Fish Creek coho — 64; Little Susitna River coho — 138; Fish Creek sockeye — 25,513; Chelatna Lake sockeye — 21,764; Larson Lake sockeye — 5,718; Jim Creek sockeye — 498; Little Susitna River sockeye — 116.

With such low inseason salmon abundances, at so many Mat-Su locations, a couple obvious question are; why does ADF&G continue to allow a liberal level of Northern District set netting that has consistently failed to meet salmon spawning escapement needs without later season restrictions and/or closures? Why not use a more sustainable (conservative) harvest level that has proven to more consistently meet salmon spawning escapement minimum or midpoint levels for all of Northern Cook Inlets monitored salmon stocks, and allows more consistent levels of harvest, for all user groups, throughout the entire fishing season?

August 6

The Use of Bait in the Little Susitna River downstream from the Parks Highway bridge is scheduled to open. Will enough coho salmon have swum past the Little Susitna River weir to allow the bait opening, or will the use of bait be closed before it is ever allowed — like last year?

Fish Creek Youth Fishery

August 2 and 3 As mentioned in last week’s column the youth fishery for participants less than 16 years of age will occur on Saturday and Sunday at Fish Creek in the waters near Knik Goose Bay Road open to salmon fishing. Legal fishing hours are 5 a.m. — 10 p.m.

Mat-Su Personal Use Fisheries

Now Closed The last day for personal use dip netting on the lower Susitna River, was Wednesday Jul 30 — so this fishery is now closed for the season. The last day for personal use dip netting at Fish Creek was Thursday July 31 — so this fishery is now closed for the remainder of the season. Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Permit holders should remember to submit their fishing dates and harvests or lack there of — In order to be allowed to obtain a permit and participate again next year (2026). P.S. The Kasilof River Personal Use Dip Net Fishery remains open through August 7.

Good Luck during the first week of August and Fish On!

Andy Couch guides Mat-Su salmon fishing charters https://fish4salmon.com/, is a member of the Matanuska Valley Fish & Game Advisory Committee, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission, however, statements/opinions in this column are his own, unless expressed otherwise.