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2021 Kuskokwim River Salmon Openings And Regulations

Salmon drying on a Kuskokwim fish rack.
Shane Iverson
/
KYUK

Find out when to soak your nets.

Set Net Openings

  • June 2, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., from the mouth upstream to Aniak
  • June 5, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., from the mouth upstream to Aniak
  • June 9, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., from the mouth upstream to the Holitna River
  • July 10 from 12:01 a.m. to July 11 at 11:59 p.m. from the mouth upstream to the Kalskag line
  • July 17 from 12:01 a.m. to July 18 at 11:59 p.m. from the mouth upstream to the Kalskag line
  • July 23 from 6 a.m. to July 25 at 11:59 p.m. from the mouth upstream to the Kalskag line

Set Net Regulations

  • 6-inch mesh or less
  • May not exceed 45 meshes in depth
  • May not be operated more than 100 feet from the ordinary high-water mark
  • Must be spaced 150 feet apart from other set nets
  • Must have an attached keg or buoy with the fisherman’s first initial, last name, and address

Drift Net Openings

  • June 12, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • June 15, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • June 19, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • July 2, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • July 9, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • July 16, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • July 23 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Regulations for the rest of the river, from the refuge boundary at Aniak upstream to the headwaters, will be under management of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Drift Net Regulations

  • 6-inch mesh or less
  • May not exceed 45 meshes in depth
  • May not exceed 150 feet in length upstream of the Johnson River
  • May not exceed 300 feet in length downstream of the Johnson River

NEW:

From south edge of Uknavik Slough and then due east of the edge of the bluff line (Kalskag line) upriver to Aniak boundary:

Fishing During Closures

When the river is closed, subsistence users can still fish, but with limited gear, using rod and reel, dipnets, beach seines, and fish wheels. Any king salmon caught with these methods in federal water from the Kuskokwim River mouth upstream to the refuge boundary at Aniak must be returned alive to the river. Fish species other than king salmon caught with this gear can be kept.

Salmon-Spawning Tributaries Closed To Gillnets

  • Eek River
  • Kwethluk River drainage to its confluence with Kuskokuak Slough
  • Kasigluk and Kisaralik River drainages, including Old Kuskokuak Slough
  • Tuluksak River drainage
  • Aniak River drainage
  • Aniak Box

All other Kuskokwim River tributaries are closed to gillnets from their confluence with the Kuskokwim River to 100 yards upstream. Subsistence fishing with gillnets will remain open upstream of that 100-yard closure area.
Why federal management is occurring

Another low king salmon run is expected this year. State biologists estimate 94,000 to 155,000 kings will return to the Kuskokwim. That’s similar to last year’s return, which saw low numbers for not only kings, but also chum salmon. To conserve the kings, federal management will begin June 1 and last until mangers determine there is no longer a king conservation concern this season.

Federal managers have overseen the Kuskokwim king salmon harvest since 2014. Federal regulators can be more restrictive than state management, and can limit king harvest to only local subsistence users. The Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission consults with federal managers on king salmon restrictions. The commission represents the Kuskokwim’s 33 tribes. Federal and tribal managers have set an escapement goal of 110,000 kings reaching their spawning grounds.

Who Can Fish

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge has declared federal management of the lower Kuskokwim River king salmon harvest. King salmon harvests on the lower Kuskokwim River will be restricted to federally qualified subsistence users. The restrictions begin on June 1, effective at 12:01 a.m. The restrictions apply to federal waters, from the Kuskokwim River mouth to the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge marker at Aniak. Federally qualified subsistence users are residents of the Kuskokwim River drainage and the coastal communities of Chefornak, Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, and Kongiganak.

The federal regulations place the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Director as the lower Kuskokwim River in-season manager, in consultation with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

The waters upstream of Aniak are under management of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and are open to all Alaskans.

Read the USFWS gillnet openings regulations

Read the ADF&G set net openings regulations

Anna Rose MacArthur served as KYUK's News Director from 2015-2022.