Will Mat-Su king salmon returns attain spawning escapement needs?

Following Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s (ADF&G’s) low projection for Deshka River king salmon last winter, the department closed all sport king salmon fishing in Units 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Susitna River drainage for the entire season. In conjunction commercial fishing throughout Upper Cook Inlet’s Northern District was closed during the last week of May and first 3 weeks of June. Even with these closures, through Thursday of last week (June 15), Deshka River king salmon escapement of 622 kings past the weir was significantly late (or lacking) for reaching Deshka River’s Sustainable Escapement Goal of 9,000 - 18,000 king salmon.

Deshka River has historically been one of the Department’s best preseason and inseason indicators of likely king salmon escapements throughout the entire Susitna River Drainage. The department’s data shows that Deshka River can host about 20% of the entire Susitna River drainage king salmon return — and discussion with ADF&G fisheries biologist, Samantha Oslund last week indicated that normally approximately 50% of the Deshka River return has passed the weir by June 19. Aside from extending the commercial fishing closure and / or restricting or closing the Tyonek subsistence king salmon fishery ADF&G appears to have few options left to boost Deshka River and overall Susitna River drainage king salmon escapements during 2023.

Little Susitna River King Salmon Escapement

As mentioned in an earlier column the 2023 king salmon escapement through Little Susitna River weir appears to be dominated by small male king salmon, with a lack of older / larger king salmon that historically made up the majority of the spawning return. A total of 82 Chinook (king ) salmon had passed Little Susitna River weir through June 15. During 2020 and 2023 Little Susitna River king salmon returns had even lower weir passage through June 15, yet managed to surpass the minimum threshold of the Little Susitna River Sustainable Escapement Goal of 2,100 —4,200 king salmon. Could king salmon spawning escapements that may be increasingly made up of smaller male king salmon and significantly fewer large female king salmon be contributing to chronic low king salmon returns at Little Susitna River, and perhaps throughout the Mat-Su Valley?

King salmon returns have been poor throughout Upper Cook Inlet this year, and I know of no Upper Cook Inlet location that is experiencing a good return. Even through a king salmon closure would have negative financial consequences, and particularly in the Mat-Su Valley, where there are few other salmon harvesting opportunities during the first half of the summer, I believe it is time to close the 2023 Little Susitna River king salmon catch and release fishery. Otherwise, Mat-Su anglers may be paying an even bigger price in lost king salmon fishing opportunity in future years. I am hopeful ADF&G may make such a closure even before this column is printed.

Ocean King Salmon Issues

ADF&G has long gone on record saying reduced king salmon returns throughout Alaska have primarily been caused by low king salmon survival in the ocean — and particularly during their first year in saltwater. Scientists from British Columbia, Washington and Oregon have been questioning if massive releases of hatchery pink and chum salmon in Alaska have caused significant competition with other salmon stocks — both wild and hatchery. Massive Pacific Northwest hatchery king salmon stockings may also compete directly with wild Alaska king salmon stocks. Another biological discussion point is the large hatchery releases may have supported an increase in ocean predators, which eat both hatchery and wild salmon stocks. In addition to much biological discussion and speculation there is a certainty. With many Alaska king salmon stocks returning at less than one fish per spawner, despite inriver and nearby commercial closures or restrictions, continuing business as usual is unsustainable. If Alaskans want king salmon to truly be the official state fish (with abundant returns to rivers throughout the state) management must exit the highway to extinction, and diligently work toward increasing ocean survival of wild Alaska king salmon.

Other Mat -Su Salmon

One of my charter guests caught a sockeye salmon on Saturday June 17 at Little Susitna River. For anglers interested in doing some prospecting: salmon fishing ( other than king salmon) is open in the lower sections of Fish Creek and Cottonwood Creek on a weekend only basis. Aside for some friendly mosquitos, completion will likely be light along these creeks between now and mid-July. A few salmon could be milling about on or after an incoming tide, even before there is much salmon migration upstream. Although I have not spent much time fishing these creeks, I have caught salmon from the intertidal portions of both during the first weekend of July. They may be worth a try in late June.

Russian River Sanctuary Open and Sockeye Bag Limit Increased to six

I mentioned that ADF&G had opened the Russian River Sanctuary Area last week — and shortly after I submitted that column ADF&G issued an additional emergency order increasing the daily sport fishing bag limit to 6 sockeye salmon in the Kenai River upstream of Skilak Lake to an ADF&G marker 300 yards upstream of Sportsman’s Landing boat launch (including Russian River Sanctuary Area) and the Russian River upstream to an ADF&G marker 600 yards below Russian River Falls.

Copper River Personal Use and Subsistence Fisheries

I have heard some second-hand reports of good catches made from both of these fisheries for Alaska residents. Both fisheries are by permit —available at the ADF&G website or at ADF&G offices in Palmer, Glennallen, and Anchorage during regular business hours. Conditions can change quickly but a good abundance of salmon have been available.

That’s all for now — I'm going fishing!

Andy Couch posts fishing report updates on his Fishtale River Guides website at: https://www.fish4salmon.com/2023-fishing-reports/june-2023-alaska-fishing-reports/