The king salmon have still not arrived in any significant numbers in the lower Yukon River. The chum salmon have begun showing up, but they are later than last year. State fish managers are closing subsistence fishing for kings on the Yukon to allow the early fish to get to spawning grounds. That means no gillnets during the subsistence fishing openings.
The gillnet restrictions include 4-inch mesh or smaller gear. Furthermore, during the salmon fishing closure there will be no fishing with dip nets, beach seines, or fish wheels.
Staring Tuesday, June 23 at 2 p.m. and ending Wednesday, June 24 at 8 a.m., there will be a subsistence salmon opening in District 1 with dip nets and beach seines to target only chum salmon. All kings caught in the opening must be released alive. District 1 includes Emmonak, Nunam Iqua, Alakanuk, and Kotlik.
The subsistence opening in District 2 starts Wednesday, June 24 at 2 p.m., and ends Thursday, June 25 at 8 a.m. Again, the same rules apply: dip nets and beach seines only; all kings have to be released alive. District 2 includes Mountain Village, Pitkas Point, St. Mary’s, Pilot Station, and Marshall.