Chitina dipnet fishery opens full 168 hours July 20–26 as salmon surplus builds

The Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery will open for a full 168-hour period starting 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 20, and running through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 26, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Wednesday.

The Turnaround in the Numbers

The turnaround is in the sonar numbers. During the week of July 6 through 12, the Miles Lake sonar counted 104,437 salmon against a preseason projection of 54,090. Total passage through July 12 now stands at 535,717, above the preseason target of 515,679, putting cumulative counts inside the target objective range for the first time this season. King salmon retention remains prohibited; all kings and steelhead must be released immediately and unharmed.

Access Rules and Participation Requirements

The department urges dipnetters to contact Chitina Native Corporation and Ahtna, Inc. before fishing to sort out land-access permissions. Detour signs along the O'Brien Creek to Haley Creek section must be followed; those detours protect cultural sites, and ADF&G warns that any violation or disturbance to protected cultural sites will result in immediate closure of this access road. As the department put it: "The department urges dipnetters to respect the rights of private landowners in the area and familiarize themselves with the land ownership in the area before fishing."

All Alaska residents may participate, but fishers must possess both a Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit ($15) and a valid resident Alaska sport fishing license. The annual limit is 25 salmon for the head of household and 10 salmon for each dependent. Harvest must be recorded on the permit immediately, and both tips of the tail fin must be clipped immediately upon landing a fish, before concealing it from plain view or transporting it from the fishing site.

Call the Chitina Fishery information line at (907) 822-5224 before making the drive.