2025 Fishing Season Openers

Kuskokwim River openers

Drift/Set Gillnet

• July 27, 2025 from 7:00 am to July 31, 2025 11:59 pm. (roughly 5 days)
• August 5, 2025 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (12 hours).

Gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth and 50 fathoms (300-feet) in aggregate (total set and drift gillnet) length below the Johnson River and 25 fathoms (150 feet) in aggregate (total set and drift gillnet) length above the Johnson River. All species of salmon may be retained during this opportunity. The salmon bearing tributaries, and the Aniak Box listed in FSA-YD-25-01 will remain closed to all gillnets. When these harvest opportunities expire, Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River, downstream of the Kalskag line and to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River will return to closed to the use of drift gillnets by all users for the protection of Chinook, Chum and Coho Salmon.

In the Kuskokwim River drainage within the Refuge boundary, including all tributaries and the Aniak box (see maps), rod and reel fishing with the retention of all salmon will be allowed effective:

Rod and Reel:

• July 27, 2025 at 7:00 am until further notice.

Fishing with gillnets above the Kalskag Line remains open until further notice.

Set gillnet only:

• July 12, 2025 from 7:01 pm to July 26, 2025 10:00 pm. (14 days)

Set gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh, may not exceed 45 meshes in depth, and 75 feet in length. All species of salmon may be retained during this opportunity. The salmon bearing tributaries and the Aniak Box (see below) will remain closed to all gillnets. When this harvest opportunity expires, federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River, downstream of the Kalskag Line and to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River will return to closed to the use of gillnets by all users for the protection of chinook, chum, and coho salmon.

Starting Thursday, June 19 @ 12:01 PM, until further notice:

• Kalskag Line: Federal waters from the Kalskag Line (between Uknavik Slough and the Kalskag bluff) to Aniak will open 24/7 to subsistence drift and set gillnet fishing. Gillnets can be up to 6" mesh, 45 meshes deep, and 150 feet long.
  
• Aniak Box Rod and Reel: Subsistence rod and reel fishing in federal waters of the Aniak Box will open with the following bag limits.
  
  • Chinook salmon over 20 inches: 2 per day, 2 in possession.
    
  • Chinook salmon under 20 inches ("jacks): No limit.
    
  • Sockeye, pinks, and non-salmon species: No limit.
    
  • Chum and coho salmon: May not be retained; must be returned to the water alive.
• Federal waters of the Aniak Box remain closed to fishing with gillnets, fish wheels, beach seines, and dip nets.

Sections 4 and 5 (refuge boundary near Aniak to headwaters)

Beginning Thursday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m., drift and set gillnet fishing is open 24/7 for all species of salmon until further notice. Gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh and must not exceed 50 fathoms (300 feet) in length and 45 meshes in depth. Additionally, all salmon may be retained using legal gear including fish wheels, dip nets, beach seines, and hook and line.

In state waters of the Aniak River and in the Aniak Box (see map below), fishing with drift and set gillnets is closed. Subsistence fishing with hook and line gear for chinook salmon is also closed, while all chinook caught using fish wheels, beach seines, and dip nets must be returned to the water alive.

District 4, Quinhagak

Subsistence fishing gillnets will be restricted to 6-inch or less mesh size not exceeding 50 fathoms in length and 45 meshes in depth; effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 1 until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Fishing is closed on Sundays during this period, and only one gillnet may be operated per boat.

Yukon River salmon closures

Coastal District, Districts 1, 2, and 3 and the Innoko River (from the Naskonat Peninsula north to Point Romanof which includes the Black River and the communities of Chevak, Hooper Bay, Scammon Bay, Nunam Iqua, Alakanuk, Kotlik, Emmonak, Mountain Village, Pitkas Point, St. Mary’s, Pilot Station, Marshall, Russian Mission, Holy Cross and Shageluk):

Currently, subsistence fishing for chum, coho, and Chinook salmon is closed and gillnets are not allowed.

Effective 12:00 p.m. noon Thursday, July 24, fishing with 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and manned fish wheels will reopen on a weekly fishing schedule from:

12:00 p.m. noon Thursdays until 12:00 p.m. noon Sundays, until further notice. Nets are restricted to 60-feet or less in length and must be operated as a set net near shore.

Fishing for nonsalmon remains open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with nonlethal or selective gear types including hook and line with a rod or pole, dip net, beach seine, hand line, longline, and fyke net. Pink and sockeye salmon may be retained. Chinook, chum, and coho salmon must be released alive.

Subdistricts 4-A Lower, 4-A Upper, and the Koyukuk River (from 3⁄4 of a mile downstream from Old Paradise Village upstream to the tip of Cone Point and the Koyukuk River, including Grayling, Anvik, Kaltag, Nulato, Koyukuk, Huslia, Hughes, Alatna, Allakaket, Bettles, Wiseman, and Coldfoot):

Currently, subsistence fishing for Chinook and chum salmon is closed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target nonsalmon and are restricted to 60-feet or less in length and must be operated as a set net near shore.

Fishing with 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets will close at 12:00 p.m. noon, Sunday July 27.

Effective 12:00 p.m. noon Thursday, July 31 fishing with 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and manned fish wheels will reopen on a weekly fishing schedule from:

12:00 p.m. noon Thursdays until 12:00 p.m. noon Sundays, until further notice.

Fishing for nonsalmon remains open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with nonlethal or selective gear types including hook and line with a rod or pole, dip net, beach seine, hand line, longline, and fyke net. Pink and sockeye salmon may be retained. Chinook and chum salmon must be released alive. During the fall season, starting at 12:01 am Wednesday, July 23, fall chum and coho salmon must also be released alive.

A subsistence fishing permit is required for all species in the Koyukuk River above Bettles including the communities of Wiseman and Coldfoot. Gillnets in the permit area will not reopen until August 20.

Subdistricts 4-B and 4-C (including Galena and Ruby):

Until further notice, gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target nonsalmon and are restricted to 60-feet or less in length and must be operated as a set net near shore.

Fishing for nonsalmon remains open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with nonlethal or selective gear types including hook and line with a rod or pole, dip net, beach seine, hand line, longline, and fyke net. Pink and sockeye salmon may be retained. Chinook and chum salmon must be released alive.

Fishing for nonsalmon remains open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with nonlethal or selective gear types including hook and line with a rod or pole, dip net, beach seine, hand line, longline, and fyke net. Pink and sockeye salmon may be retained. Chinook and chum salmon must be released alive.