King salmon have arrived on the Yukon River. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that the first subsistence-caught king was reported last week. With the kings moving upriver, the state is issuing a series of fishing restrictions.
For the South Coastal District, which includes Chevak, Hooper Bay, and Scammon Bay, beginning at at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, subsistence fishing will be restricted to six-inch or smaller mesh size gillnets.
Restrictions change for the North Coastal District and District 1, which includes the coastal villages from Nunam Iqua to Kotlik and the villages downstream of Mountain Village.
Beginning at 8 p.m. today, subsistence fishing will close. Twenty-four hours later, at 8 p.m. on Thursday, fishing will reopen with six-inch or smaller mesh gillnets. The area will follow the regulatory salmon fishing schedule of two 36-hour periods per week: 8 p.m. Thursdays until 8 a.m. Saturdays, and 8 p.m. Mondays until 8 a.m. Wednesdays.
Similar restrictions will continue moving upriver as king salmon travel up the Yukon.
