Kodiak's salmon fishery opens for 54 hours starting Thursday at noon

Kodiak's commercial salmon fishery gets 54 hours starting at noon Thursday, running until 6 pm Saturday.

The opening covers the Afognak District, except Izhut Bay and inner and outer Kitoi Bay; seven Northwest Kodiak sections, including Uyak, Zachar, Spiridon, Inner Uganik, Terror, Kizhuyak and Sharatin bays; the Outer Ayakulik Section; the Humpy-Deadman Section of Alitak; and the Eastside Kodiak District, minus part of Pasagshak Bay. The Outer Karluk, Central and North Cape sections stay open until further notice. Exact boundaries are in the emergency order.

King salmon 28 inches or longer can't be kept by purse seine gear anywhere in the Kodiak Area and must be released unharmed. That's a standing regulation, not a response to this year's run.

The kings are in trouble regardless. Last year the Karluk River saw 93 Chinook reach the spawning grounds against a biological escapement goal of 3,000 to 6,000. The Ayakulik came in at 444 against a goal of 4,800 to 8,400. Karluk has now missed three years running: 379 fish in 2023, 76 in 2024, 93 in 2025.

The 2025 season drew 142 purse seine and 105 set gillnet permit holders, with an estimated $36.9 million paid at the dock.

Updates are on the department's 24-hour recorded line, (907) 486-4559.