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Kuskokwim Managers Schedule Subsistence Fishing Openers

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Managers scheduled openings for subsistence fishing in the Kuskokwim, the first scheduled targeted king salmon opener this year. Please note that different sections of the river may be under different schedules.

State managers scheduled a 2 day opener for the portion of the river from Aniak to the Kuskokwim Headwaters beginning Sunday. 

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued a news release today, saying a 48-hour subsistence opener has been scheduled for the area from Aniak to the mouth of the Holitna River, it remains open from Sunday, June 12 at noon; closing Tuesday, June 14 at noon. The Aniak River will remain closed.

Fisherman are allowed to use gillnets with a mesh size no bigger than 6” inches, and the nets can’t be longer than 150 feet in the Kuskokwim from Aniak to the Headwaters on the scheduled openings.

Also beginning Sunday at noon, kings caught with fish wheels, beach seines, and hook and line can be kept, effective until further notice.

The Kuskokwim River from the mouth of the Holitna to the Headwaters will remain open until further notice.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says the schedules are based on run timings, upriver populations and expected impact on the run.

The US Fish and Wildlife Refuge manager issued two news releases for the Kuskokwim River from the Aniak River to the mouth of the Kuskokwim.

The first news release says they scheduled a 12-hour subsistence fishing opener from beginning 12:01pm Sunday, June 12 to and closing at midnight.

Nets are not to exceed 6” inches in mesh and may not be deeper than 45 fathoms. For those fishing in the Kuskokwim from the Johnson River all the way up to Aniak: nets are not supposed to be longer than 25 fathoms or 150 feet in length. Those fishing below the Johnson to the mouth of the Kuskokwim can use nets up to 50 fathoms or 300 feet in length.

The opening is only for federally qualified users and that includes the villages along the Kuskokwim River and Chefornak, Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, Kongiginak.

Federal managers also closed the Eek, Kwethluk, Kiseralik, Kasigluk, Tuluksak, and the Aniak River to gillnets, beginning Sunday, June 12 at noon, to August 11th at 11:59pm.

The Fish and Wildlife Service asks that subsistence fisherman keep count of their catch because it will be useful in determining run strength and future opportunities.

The Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Manager made these decisions after consulting with the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

For the ADF&G news releaseclick here.

For the USFWS news release for the opener click here.

For the USFWS news release for the tributary closure click here.