ADF&G closes Tanana king salmon sport fishing through September

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed sport fishing for king salmon in all flowing waters of the Tanana River drainage through September 2026, including catch-and-release fishing, because the Yukon River king salmon run is forecast to come in below average. This is the second consecutive year ADF&G has closed the Tanana to king salmon fishing before the season even started.

The emergency order prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon in all waters of the Tanana River drainage, including the Chena, Goodpaster, and Salcha rivers. Anglers fishing for other species must use only unbaited artificial lures in Tanana River drainage tributaries, and any incidentally caught king salmon must be released immediately without removing them from the water.

The Tanana River is a major tributary of the Yukon River, and managers close Tanana fishing when Yukon king salmon runs are weak to reduce harvest pressure on the shared stock. ADF&G issued the same closure in 2025 for the same reason. The pattern reflects sustained weakness in Yukon River king salmon returns; preseason forecasts have triggered protective closures across the drainage for two years running.

The closure runs through 11:59 p.m. September 30, 2026.