Sport fishing restricted near Little Susitna River Weir

MAT-SU — State Department of Fish and Game officials have expanded restrictions on king salmon fishing in the Little Susitna River drainage.

In an emergency order issued Wednesday, the Division of Sport Fish has announced the closure of the Little Su to sport fishing within 1,500 feet immediately downstream and 300 feet upstream of the weir at River Mile 32.5. The ban on fishing this area goes into effect at 6 a.m., Friday and markers will be placed identifying the boundaries of the closed area.

Wednesday’s action comes on the heels of more widespread sport fishing restrictions imposed earlier this season. Those include reducing the annual limit of kings taken from local waters from five to two, along with a laundry list of other restrictions.

Prompted by poor escapement numbers of kings in the Big Susitna and Little Susitna river drainages over recent years, the king limit reduction is in place through July 13. Other restrictions include the following river drainages:

• Although the limit of kings from the fresh waters of Cook Inlet remains at five, no more than two may be taken in combination from the Susitna River and Little Susitna River drainages. Kings taken before May 15 also count against the two-king limit.

• Only one unbaited single-hook artificial lure is allowed in the drainages, including the Deshka River.

• Harvest in Unit 4 is restricted to Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, with catch-and-release only allowed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Harvest is still allowed seven days a week on the Deshka, but bait is not allowed.

• Taking kings in Unit 1 (except the Deshka River), on Parks Highway streams within Unit 2, the upper Susitna (Unit 3), Talachulina River (Unit 4), Talkeetna River (Unit 5) and Chulitna River (Unit 6). For these areas, catch-and-release fishing only is allowed during days and times normally open to king salmon fishing.

• King harvest in the Little Susitna River is allowed only on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Only catch-and-release is permitted on other days.

• The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all restrictions.