This season is shaping up to be the worst fall for salmon fishing on the Yukon River in recorded history. It follows the worst recorded summer salmon season ever.
As the season nears its close, fall chum counts are projected to reach 99,000 fish, just over a tenth of the normal median run size of 870,000 fish. The median silver run is normally 240,000 fish; this year the total run size is projected to be just 37,000 fish. And both species are returning as smaller fish than normal.
Subsistence, commercial, and sport fishing for chum and silvers remains closed on the river. Subsistence fishermen may use 4-inch mesh gillnets, fish wheels, and dipnets to target non-salmon species.
