Karluk River king salmon collapse triggers emergency fishing closures

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed saltwater king salmon fishing on the westside of Kodiak Island from Outlet Cape to Cape Ikolik through June 30, 2026, after Karluk River king salmon returns collapsed to historic lows. Only 93 king salmon were counted in the Karluk River last season, similar to 2024's count of 76 fish. The closure, which took effect May 1, represents the most sweeping restriction yet across one of Alaska's premier fishing destinations.

The westside saltwater closure shuts down marine king salmon fishing to protect fish returning to the Karluk and Ayakulik systems. Under the emergency order, king salmon may not be targeted, possessed, or retained in the closed saltwater area. Any king salmon caught incidentally must be released immediately without being removed from the water.

Tyler Polum, Kodiak Area Management Biologist for ADF&G, said king salmon fishing effort has been low due to weather, but on calm days, fish have been caught between Woody and Long Island and in the Fingers area, outside the closed zone.

The Karluk River drainage, including the lagoon and its outlet stream, and the Ayakulik River drainage remain closed to king salmon fishing through July 25, 2026. Fishing gear in these drainages is restricted to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure. ADF&G has also reduced the island-wide king salmon bag limit to one fish per day with no annual limit, aligning Kodiak with the rest of the Gulf of Alaska for the 2026 season.

Commercial salmon fishing around the Karluk and Ayakulik systems also faces early-season constraints, with ADF&G postponing some westside early openings to protect expected low returns of kings and early-run sockeye. Industry reports from May 2026 indicate that low expected returns to the Karluk River are likely to keep the area closed to some early-season fishing between June 1 and July 5, 2026.

Elsewhere on Kodiak, fishing conditions remain mixed. A few sockeye salmon have appeared in the Buskin River, but high water has slowed fishing. Dolly Varden fishing has been good in the Buskin River, and rainbows have been caught as well. In saltwater outside the closed zone, Dolly Varden are being caught at Mission Beach and should be available at most local beaches. Halibut fishing has been slow, with most fish found fairly deep.

The Federal Subsistence Board first closed federal public waters of the Karluk River to federal subsistence fishing for Chinook salmon in June 2017. By May 2026, ADF&G had extended year-round subsistence closures on the Karluk and imposed sport fishing closures on both the Karluk and Ayakulik rivers through July 25, 2026.

Emergency Order 2-KS-4-14-26 implements the westside saltwater closure from 12:01 a.m. on May 1, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2026. Emergency Order 2-KS-4-17-28 implements the island-wide bag limit reduction from 12:01 a.m. on April 1, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. on September 15, 2026. Emergency Order 2-KS-4-13-26 closes the Karluk and Ayakulik drainages through 11:59 p.m. on July 25, 2026.