Chitina dipnet fishery opens Friday for 60 hours

The Chitina Subdistrict personal use dipnet salmon fishery opens at noon Friday, June 12, and runs through midnight Sunday, June 14. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game cut the opening to 60 hours after sonar counts came in below forecast.

Miles Lake sonar counted 31,775 salmon passing upstream between May 25 and May 31. ADF&G had projected 62,187 salmon for that period. The deficit triggered the reduction under the management plan, which ties weekly fishing periods to sonar escapement estimates.

King salmon must be released until July 1. Steelhead cannot be kept and must be released immediately. Annual limits remain 25 salmon per household head plus 10 per dependent listed on the personal use permit.

Fishers must record their harvest on the permit immediately. Both tips of the tail fin must be clipped immediately upon landing a fish, before concealing the salmon from plain view or transporting it from the fishing site.

Participants must hold both a Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit and a valid resident sport fishing license. The permit costs $15.

ADF&G urges dipnetters to adhere to signs and detours along the O'Brien Creek to Haley Creek section of Copper River Highway Right of Way. The detours were constructed in 2024 to avoid disturbing cultural sites. Any violation or disturbance to protected cultural sites will result in immediate closure of this access road.

The current fishing schedule is announced on the Chitina Fishery information line at (907) 822-5224. ADF&G advises checking the information line before traveling to Chitina to ensure the fishery will be open. The next weekly opening will be announced after ADF&G reviews sonar counts for the June 1–7 period.