More on the emergency fishing orders

Andy Couch is the writer of the fisheries columns here in the Frontiersman. We share columns on their way to the editor as a way of letting the other guy know is being written about to help eliminate repetition in materials presented each week. I saw Andy’s column for this week while on its way to the editor.

Another emergency order on king salmon fishing was issued after Andy submitted his column. To keep the record complete, I’ll mention it here but read Andy’s column to get the full spectrum on king salmon fishing around Southcentral Alaska.

Quoting from that emergency order: “In favor of protecting returning king salmon and increasing fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation closure for Units 1 — 6 of the Susitna River drainages effective 6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 23 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Sport fishing gear continues to be limited to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure when fishing in Units 1 — 6 of the Susitna River drainages in those waters normally open to sport fishing for king salmon.”

“Sport fishing for other species will be allowed seven days per week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. King salmon may not be targeted and those caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. For a complete description of these waters, anglers should refer to the 2022 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.”

“This sport fishing regulation closure supersedes the emergency order issued on June 16, 2022, that closed king salmon fishing on the Deshka River, while continuing to allow catch-and-release fishing for king salmon in the remainder of the Susitna River drainage.

“‘King salmon runs across Cook Inlet are turning out to be poorer than expected and the Susitna River drainage appears to be following suit,’ stated Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey. ‘Despite fishing success picking up in certain areas of the drainage recently, it appears the runs to these areas will be weak as well. The Deshka River weir count to date is of the lowest on record in 27 years of operation.’”