Chatanika River whitefish spear lottery opens July 27; miss the report, lose next year's permit

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game opens its online lottery Monday for 400 Chatanika River personal use whitefish spear fishery permits, with a hard application deadline of August 7 and a post-season reporting requirement that costs next year's permit if missed.

The lottery window runs from 12:01 a.m. July 27 through 11:59 p.m. August 7 at the ADF&G Online Store. One entry and one permit per household. Applicants must hold a valid 2026 Alaska resident sport fishing license; those under 18 are exempt. Results post August 21, and permits follow by August 24. Permits must be printed and signed before anyone enters the water.

The fishery runs September 11 through October 12, covering roughly seven river miles from the Elliott Highway Bridge downstream to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline crossing. The household harvest limit is 10 fish, with no size restrictions, in any combination of humpback whitefish, round whitefish, and least cisco. Sheefish and Arctic grayling may not be speared or retained. ADF&G is explicit: "Whitefish can only be taken by spear in the Chatanika River drainage under personal use regulations with a personal use permit; the use of spears to take whitefish in the Chatanika River drainage under sport fishing regulations is prohibited."

Every permit holder must submit an online harvest report by October 31, even if they never fished. Miss that deadline and ADF&G bars the household from the 2027 lottery. Permittees without internet access may use a public computer at the Fairbanks ADF&G office with staff assistance, or contact the Fairbanks or Delta Junction ADF&G offices for help.

The fishery runs at night. ADF&G notes that "this fishery occurs in the fall every year on the Chatanika River just north of Fairbanks when whitefish migrate from the Minto Flats area upstream to spawning grounds on the upper Chatanika. These fish move primarily at night, and users typically spear whitefish when it is dark using lanterns and bright headlamps." ADF&G's standing overview lists 300 household permits issued annually. This year's cap is set at 400.

For more information, contact Brandy Baker, Tanana River Area Assistant Management Biologist, at (907) 895-4637, or Andrew Gryska, Tanana River Area Management Biologist, at (907) 459-7339.