Hunting & Fishing

The number of king salmon on the Yukon River this summer has gone from bad to worse. 

The Kuskokwim Bay commercial fishery has been operating for nearly a month. It moved to 12-hour openings every other day, beginning last week.

The king salmon on the Yukon this year were late and low. Genetic data indicates that the king salmon stocks spawning in the U.S. are coming in lower numbers than those headed to Canada.  

Moose hunting in Zone 2 of the RM 615 hunt in Game Management Unit 18 will have a longer season this year. 

The mood was happy, even relieved, as the Kuskokwim Salmon Management Working Group met this week. The group of river users advise the state on managing the fishery. Last week, subsistence fishermen reported empty or partially-filled fish racks. The next day, the state opened the main stem of the river to gillnets full-time. A week later, on July 13, some fishermen reported nearly full racks for the season.

Enough king salmon have entered the Yukon River drainage system to meet escapement, but not enough to support harvest levels as high as last year’s.  

The Yukon River commercial fishing opening originally scheduled to start in District 1 on Monday, July 6 has been canceled.  

Until further notice, the Eek River is closing to gillnets and fishing with hook and line for king salmon beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 2. Any kings caught with hook and line in the Eek River will need to be returned to the water alive.