2025 Fishing Season Openers

Kuskokwim River openers

In the Kuskokwim River Drainage (Subsistence Sections 1-5, from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River to the headwaters):

• Effective 9:00 a.m. Thursday, August 14th, subsistence fishing with will remain open until further notice, there will be no mesh size restriction.

As a reminder to fishers:

• All Subsistence gears are currently allowed.
• All salmon and non-salmon may be retained.
• Gillnets may be up to 50 fathoms in length.
• Gillnets may not obstruct more than one-half of the width of any stream, channel, or side-channel.
• Gillnets with 6-inch or less mesh size have a maximum depth of 45 meshes.
• Gillnets with greater than 6-inch mesh size have a maximum depth of 35 meshes.
• Gear must be marked with a red buoy with the fisher’s first initial, last name and address.

Yukon River salmon closures

Coastal District and District 1 (including Chevak, Hooper Bay, Scammon Bay, Emmonak, Nunam Iqua, Alakanuk, and Kotlik):

Chinook, chum, and coho salmon fishing remains closed. 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. Chinook, chum, and coho salmon must be released alive.

6-inch or Smaller Mesh Gillnet Nonsalmon Opportunity in Designated Areas

Effective 12:00 p.m. noon Sunday, August 17, subsistence fishing with set gillnets will open in the rivers, sloughs, and lakes without a closed drainage flowing into them that are listed below and shown in the map below, until further notice. Set gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh and 60-feet or shorter in length. This is to provide an opportunity to harvest whitefish and other nonsalmon species. Gillnets cannot block more than 1⁄2 width of any waterway.

The following coastal drainages are open using 6-inch or smaller mesh set gillnets for whitefish and other nonsalmon species only, from 1 mile upstream of the mouth. Nets must be set upstream of the coordinates listed below.

Whitefish/Nonsalmon Area Latitude Longitude
Aknerkochik River 61° 06.266' N 165° 07.183' W
Kealavik River 61° 01.117' N 164° 56.610' W
Kun River 61° 50.815' N 165° 35.352' W
Lithkealik River 61° 42.454' N 165° 51.656' W
Narokachik River 61° 04.180' N 164° 51.928' W
Ninglikfak River 61° 29.032' N 165° 43.468' W
Pastoliak River 63° 01.901' N 163° 14.931' W

The following areas are open using 6-inch or smaller mesh set gillnets for whitefish and other nonsalmon species only, from 500-feet upstream of a closed area. Nets must be set upstream of the coordinates listed below.

Whitefish/Nonsalmon Area Latitude Longitude

Anakshek Pass upstream of the Kwemeluk Pass confluence 62° 16.427' N 164° 50.765' W
Big River 61° 48.517' N 163° 25.312' W
Chelunginik River 61° 38.889' N 165° 23.863' W
Ear River 61° 50.793' N 165° 28.194' W
Kuttak River 61° 40.679' N 165° 34.982' W
Kwecharak River upstream of the Komoiarak Slough confluence 61° 38.684' N 165° 40.430' W
Manokinak River upstream of the Nungatak River confluence 61° 31.172' N 164° 23.095' W
Nantok River 61° 51.287' N 163° 51.381' W
Nanvaranak (Hamilton) Slough 62° 43.656' N 163° 56.290' W
Pitmik River 61° 47.269' N 163° 38.005' W
Piyukenuk River 61° 37.887' N 165° 04.870' W
Ponglevik River 62° 16.172' N 164° 36.032' W
Talik River 61° 13.623' N 164° 38.899' W
Tungpuk River 61° 52.146' N 165° 17.518' W

If there are multiple names for a river or slough, please let us know by contacting the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Emmonak (907-949-1320) until August 25 or Fairbanks (907-459-7274). You can also contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 907-334-5391 or 907-334-5389.

4-inch or Smaller Mesh Gillnet Nonsalmon Opportunity Districtwide

As previously announced, the opportunity to harvest nonsalmon with 4-inch or smaller mesh set gillnets of 60-feet or shorter length and manned fish wheels is allowed in all waters of District 1 and the Coastal District on a weekly schedule. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh and manned fish wheels may be used to target nonsalmon from noon Thursdays, through 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. Gillnets cannot block more than 1⁄2 width of any waterway.

Fishermen should fish this nonsalmon gear in areas where resident species are more likely to be encountered than salmon. Fishing with other nonsalmon gears, including hand line, longline, fyke net, dip net, and beach seine, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Chinook, chum, and coho salmon must be released alive from nonsalmon gear (other than 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets).

District 2 (including Mountain Village, Pitkas Point, St. Mary’s, Pilot Station, and Marshall):

Chinook, chum, and coho salmon fishing remains closed. 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. Chinook, chum, and coho salmon must be released alive.

6-inch or Smaller Mesh Gillnet Nonsalmon Opportunity in Designated Areas

Effective 12:00 p.m. noon Sunday, August 17, subsistence fishing with set gillnets will open in the rivers, sloughs, and lakes without a closed drainage flowing into them that are listed below and shown in the map below, until further notice. Set gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh and 60-feet or shorter in length. This is to provide an opportunity to harvest whitefish and other nonsalmon species. Gillnets cannot block more than 1⁄2 width of any waterway. If there are multiple names for a river or slough, please let us know by contacting the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Emmonak (907-949-1320) until August 25 or Fairbanks (907-459-7274). You can also contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 907-334-5391 or 907-334-5389.

The following areas are open using 6-inch or smaller mesh set gillnets for whitefish and other nonsalmon species only, from 500-feet upstream of a closed area. Nets must be set upstream of the coordinates listed below.

4-inch or Smaller Mesh Gillnet Nonsalmon Opportunity Districtwide

As previously announced, the opportunity to harvest nonsalmon with 4-inch or smaller mesh set gillnets of 60-feet or shorter length and manned fish wheels is allowed in all waters of District 2 on a weekly schedule. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh and manned fish wheels may be used to target nonsalmon from noon Thursdays, through 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. Gillnets cannot block more than 1⁄2 width of any waterway. Fishermen should fish this nonsalmon gear in areas where resident species are more likely to be encountered than salmon. Fishing with other nonsalmon gears, including hand line, longline, fyke net, dip net, and beach seine, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Chinook, chum, and coho salmon must be released alive from nonsalmon gear (other than 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets).

District 3 (including Russian Mission, Holy Cross, and Shageluk):

Chinook, chum, and coho salmon fishing remains closed. 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. Chinook, chum, and coho salmon must be released alive.

6-inch or Smaller Mesh Gillnet Nonsalmon Opportunity in Designated Areas

Effective 12:00 p.m. noon Sunday, August 17, subsistence fishing with set gillnets will open in the rivers, sloughs, and lakes without a closed drainage flowing into them that are listed below and shown in the map below, until further notice. Set gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or smaller mesh and 60-feet or shorter in length. This is to provide an opportunity to harvest whitefish and other nonsalmon species. Gillnets cannot block more than 1⁄2 width of any waterway.

4-inch or Smaller Mesh Gillnet Nonsalmon Opportunity Districtwide

As previously announced, the opportunity to harvest nonsalmon with 4-inch or smaller mesh set gillnets of 60-feet or shorter length and manned fish wheels is allowed in all waters of District 2 on a weekly schedule. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh and manned fish wheels may be used to target nonsalmon from noon Thursdays, through 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. Gillnets cannot block more than 1⁄2 width of any waterway. Fishermen should fish this nonsalmon gear in areas where resident species are more likely to be encountered than salmon. Fishing with other nonsalmon gears, including hand line, longline, fyke net, dip net, and beach seine, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Chinook, chum, and coho salmon must be released alive from nonsalmon gear (other than 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets).