All king salmon sport fisheries in the Upper Copper River drainage will be closed on May 1, including catch-and-release fishing, which in all flowing waters of the Copper River drainage, only unbaited, single hook, artificial lures may be used.
That decision from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is based on a 2017 Copper River king salmon forecast of 29,000 fish, just 5,000 fish over the drainage-wide minimum escapement goal for king salmon.
Escapement in 2016 was the lowest on record, at less than 12,000 kings. Below average returns during previous years, past performance of fisheries within the Copper River, anticipated subsistence harvest, incidental take in the commercial fishery, and uncertainty over how returns may recover in the future justify closing the Copper River king salmon sport fisheries for the 2017 season, according to state biologists.
The department plans to monitor the Copper River king salmon run as it develops this spring. If available indicators of abundance suggest the run is stronger than forecast, the department plans to reevaluate preseason restrictions, and if justified, relax the appropriate restrictions to provide additional fishing opportunity.
Meanwhile, effective June 1, for the Glennallen subdistrict subsistence fishery, ADF&G has limited the catch to two king salmon, taken by fish wheel or dip net, to be retained from June 1 through July 15.
Effective June 7, the Chitina subdistrict personal use dip net fishery will be closed for retention of Chinooks for the remainder of the season. Any kings incidentally taken must be released immediately.
The Copper River King Salmon Fishery Management Plan directs the department to manage the Copper River fisheries to achieve a sustainable escapement goal in the upper Copper River of 24,000 or more king salmon.
State biologists said Copper River king returns have been below average since 2009 and spawning escapement over the last five years has averaged 24,864 salmon, and fell below minimum escapement goal in 2010, 2014 and 2016.
