New opportunities for Mat-Su Anglers

On Tuesday the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) made decisions concerning 23 of the approximately 186 fishing regulation proposals that had been submitted by April 10 of last year for the Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries meeting. This first group of proposals dealt mostly with sport fisheries in the Knik Arm Drainage and Anchorage Management Areas. The Board adopted 11 of the 23 proposals in this group. 8 of the 11 adopted proposals were submitted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).

Proposal 237 - Bow Fishing For Northern Pike in Palmer - Wasilla Zone flowing waters. This allows bow and arrow and spear fishing for northern pike and blackfish year-round in Palmer - Wasilla Zone flowing waters, while the season for other forms of fishing remains June 15 — April 14. Proposed by Paul Warta.

Proposal 245 - Additional Days of Fish Creek Salmon Fishing. The portion of Fish Creek near Knik Goose-Bay Road, and open to sport salmon fishing, will now be open 7 days per week starting June 15 — July 14, and from the second Saturday in August - December 31. Proposed by Stephanie Nowers. I believe the youth fishing days on the first Saturday and Sunday in August remain open as well.

Proposal 234 - With substitute language, updated the boundaries of the Palmer - Wasilla Zone and allows northern pike fishing year-round in flowing waters between the Little Susitna River and Susitna River. Proposed by ADF&G — with a modification from public input.

Proposal 236 — Adds 6 lakes to the stocked lakes list where anglers may harvest larger limits of stocked fish. Proposed by ADF&G.

Proposal 246 — Will expand the list of waters where anglers may use 5 lines when ice fishing for northern pike. Proposed by ADF&G

Proposal 250 — Sport fishing for king salmon will now be allowed year round in the portion of Ship Creek open to salmon fishing. Proposed by ADF&G with a modification, by Dustin Slinker, adopted through the public process.

Additional proposals adopted by the BOF on Tuesday made changes to better conserve Northern Cook Inlet fishery resources:

Proposal 251 - Closes Eklutna River drainage to coho and sockeye salmon fishing until populations can rebound to sustainable levels. Proposed by Native Village of Eklutna.

Proposal 247 - Will prohibit the practice of chumming in Big, Mirror, and Flat Lake from November 1 - April 30. Proposed by ADF&G.

Proposal 248 - Restricts Big Lake Arctic char to catch-and-release year round in the Fish Creek drainage. Proposed by ADF&G.

Proposal 244 - Redefined Fish Creek near Knik Goose-Bay Road to include all waters within 1/4 mile radius of its confluence with Knik Arm. Proposed by ADF&G.

Proposal 249 — by ADF&G removed outdated language from regulation.

These new regulations will be translated into legal language and should become regulation by the time the area 2024 fishing regulation booklets are distributed.

Tuesday Feb. 27 was the 5th day of the Alaska Board of Fisheries - Upper Cook Inlet meeting at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage. I want to thank all fishers who have participated in the public process to date, and would encourage those who may still want to participate / provide public input on the remaining proposals.

The meeting is scheduled to run through March 5, but is unpredictable as to exactly when specific proposals will be heard in committee or deliberated on by the BOF. For more information — updates you may find some information on the meeting information page.

Meeting and Fish On!