Kodiak salmon fishing extended again, running through Wednesday evening

Kodiak salmon boats are fishing now under a second 48-hour extension, this one running from 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26.

It applies to the Outer Karluk Section of the Southwest Kodiak District; the Central, North Cape and Inner Uganik Bay sections of the Northwest Kodiak District; the Southwest Afognak Section; and the Cape Alitak, Alitak Bay, Moser Bay and Olga Bay sections of the Alitak District. Other sections closed as scheduled at 6 p.m. Monday. Duck Bay, Izhut Bay and Outer Kitoi Bay in the Afognak District remain open until further notice, and were not tied to either window.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued it as Emergency Order #4-FS-K-41-26 at 10 a.m. Monday, following the weekend extension that began 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 under Emergency Order #4-FS-K-40-26. Last season's fishery drew participation from 142 purse seine and 105 set gillnet permit holders across the Kodiak Management Area.

The Chinook restriction did not move. In the Kodiak Area including the Mainland District, until further notice, "Chinook (king) salmon 28 inches or greater in length may not be retained by purse seine gear in the commercial fishery and must be returned to the water unharmed."

That rule exists against a backdrop ADF&G has documented: only 93 Chinook reached the Karluk River last season against a biological escapement goal of 3,000 to 6,000 fish, with Ayakulik at 444 against a goal of 4,800 to 8,400. In a proposal to the Board of Fisheries, conservation-focused authors argued that releasing large Chinook from purse seine gear may still cause high mortality, and favored tighter time-and-area limits instead of relying on nonretention rules to protect the stock.

Openings are carried on the department's 24-hour recorded line at 907-486-4559.