Kodiak's Easiest Sockeye River Shuts Down

Kodiak's most convenient sockeye river just ran dry enough to shut down. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing the Buskin River to both sport and subsistence fishing at midnight Wednesday, after just 988 sockeye crossed the weir by Monday — well below average. "Sockeye are lackluster in the Buskin with low escapement and sporadic fishing success," said area biologist Tyler Polum.

The closure stings because of where it is. The Buskin sits right on Kodiak's road system, no boat or bush plane required, which makes it the early-summer go-to for local anglers and families putting up fish.

But the island's runs aren't all struggling. At Litnik, Polum reported more than 15,000 fish through the weir, with good fishing in the river and gillnetting in the bay — a run tracking about average. A few sockeye have shown at Pasagshak, though it's very early there, and the kings haven't yet arrived at Monashka or Salonie, where runs historically start in late June. With recent rain and big tides, Polum said, it's a good time to look.

Anyone heading out should check ADF&G's emergency orders first for the exact scope of the Buskin closure.