Hunting & Fishing

This will be the second year that Seattle-based E&E Foods is purchasing salmon from local fishermen in Kuskokwim Bay. Fishermen and fish buyers are optimistic that the Kuskokwim Bay commercial fishery will build on the success of last year. 

It is still very early in the season, but so far the Kuskokwim River king salmon run appears to be either late or low.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is extending its ban on sport fishing for king salmon along the Kuskokwim River and its tributaries for most of the summer. The sport fishing ban will last through July 25 to cover the length of the king run. The ban originally ran from May 1 to June 11. 

On June 10, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced drift net openings on the federally managed portion of the Kuskokwim River for the same dates as the federal openings. Both state and federal openings are on June 12 and 15.

On the Yukon River, subsistence salmon fishing is being closed to protect king salmon as they migrate upriver.

Beginning June 12, subsistence fishing will be allowed anytime in the upper region of the Kuskokwim River north of Aniak, which is managed by the state. Fishermen will need to obtain a state subsistence permit, which allows them to catch up to 10 king salmon for their households.

On June 2, federal waters from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River to Aniak will be open for set net subsistence fishing.

It looks like another tough year for salmon fishing on the Yukon River. The king salmon run on the Yukon is expected to be smaller than last year’s, which failed to meet minimal escapement goals.

Spring waterfowl hunting in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is ending Memorial Day weekend. Starting Tuesday, June 1, the waterfowl season will be closed for 30 days to allow migratory birds to nest.

Commercial fishing will return to Kuskokwim Bay this summer for the second year in a row.