KYUK AM

Hunting & Fishing

Stories related to subsistence/commercial/sport hunting, fishing, gathering activities.

Remembering Cassandra Tinker, Who Died As The Kuskokwim Salmon Arrived

By • Jul 3, 2018
Cassandra Tinker, age 23, of Kasigluk was killed in a hit-and-run car accident while crossing a street in Anchorage around 3 a.m. on June 16, 2018.
Courtesy of Mary Alice Tinker

Two families in Kasigluk lost loved ones last month and the deaths stopped many from going fishing for the food they need for winter. In response, state and federal fishery managers teamed up to deliver salmon to the two families in mid-June. KYUK was with one of the families during the wake of 23-year-old Cassandra Tinker after the fish arrived.


An Estimated 20,000 Kings Harvested From Lower Kuskokwim, Moving River Further From Escapement Goal

By • Jul 3, 2018
Salmon belly strips hang to dry on a fish rack along the lower Kuskokwim River.
Petra Harpak / KYUK

The king salmon harvest in one section of the lower Kuskokwim River has reached an estimated 20,000 kings; the total Kuskokwim king harvest is expected to be even higher drainage-wide. This catch comes during a year of intended king salmon conservation.


Yukon Commercial Gillnet Openings

By Johanna.Eurich • Jul 2, 2018

Later this week, the lower Yukon River will see its first commercial gillnet salmon fishing openings of the season. There will be two 6-hour openings for gillnets in District 1: one on Wednesday, the Fourth of July, and the other on Thursday, July 5.  Both begin at 6 p.m. and end at midnight.  

In District 2, commercial fishing with dipnets and beach seine gear will continue until the weekend, when the district will have its first commercial gillnet openings on Saturday and Sunday. Each of them will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. 

King Salmon Appear To Surge Through Lower River Just As Kuskokwim Opens To Gillnets

By • Jun 29, 2018
Salmon are harvested from the Kuskokwim River during a subsistence fishing opening on June 12, 2018.
Katie Basile / KYUK

The lower Kuskokwim River is opening to gillnets on Friday, June 29 just as a surge of king salmon appear to be swimming by. The timing could result in a high harvest of kings during a year when conservation was the intent.


Kuskokwim River Running High, Murky, And Cool This Summer

By • Jun 28, 2018
Katie Basile / KYUK

After a large snowfall in the Alaska and Kilbuck Mountain ranges, followed by a cool spring, the Kuskokwim River is running high, murky, and cool this season. The conditions are creating challenges for fishermen during an already highly restricted fishing season.


Kuskokwim Fishermen Request Additional Fishing Hours For Kasigluk Following Recent Deaths

By • Jun 28, 2018
Katie Basile / KYUK

Friday's gillnet opening in the lower Kuskokwim River may not be the last one. The Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Working Group is recommending that the community of Kasigluk receive additional fishing hours this season after recent deaths limited the community’s ability to subsistence fish.

Only Fish On Friday If You Need To, Urge Kuskokwim Fishermen As King Salmon Harvests Rise

By • Jun 28, 2018
Fishermen soak a gillnet targeting salmon in the Kuskokwim River near Napaskiak during a subsistence fishing opening on June 12, 2018.
Katie Basile / KYUK

The federal waters of the lower Kuskokwim River will have a six-hour subsistence fishing opening on Friday. Openings have been limited and heavily restricted this season to conserve low king salmon stocks, and Friday’s opening will mark only the fourth opportunity to target salmon in the lower river this season. Amid conservation concerns, Kuskokwim residents are urging fellow fishermen to only fish during Friday’s opening if they need to. 

Kuskokwim Federal Waters Opening To Gillnets For Six Hours On Friday, June 29

By • Jun 27, 2018
Katie Basile / KYUK

The escapement goal set at the beginning of the season for Kuskokwim River king salmon appears unlikely to be met, and another federal fishing opening has been scheduled, which will take more kings out of the water.

King Salmon Permit Fishery In Kuskokwim State Waters Closes

By • Jun 27, 2018
Gillnet fishing on the Kuskokwim River near Aniak.
Dave Cannon

This season, the state of Alaska offered permits to harvest king salmon in the middle and upper Kuskokwim River during fishing closures. This was the first year the permits have been available, and they allow each household to harvest a total of 10 kings for the length of the closures. On Tuesday at 1 p.m., that permit fishery ended.

Yukon Chums Plentiful, But Kings Scarce On Yukon River

By Johanna Eurich • Jun 25, 2018
Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Commercial fishing for summer chum salmon continues on the Yukon River with commercial openings for dip nets and beach seines in both Districts 1 and 2. The gear is designed to let as many kings swim by as possible. There is also restricted subsistence fishing this summer. 

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