Norton Sound king salmon fishing closed for the season

King salmon fishing is closed across Norton Sound rivers for the summer. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game shut down sport fishing for kings from Bald Head to Point Romanof on Friday because biologists expect a below-average run this year.

The closure covers the Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Ungalik, Inglutalik, and Golsovia rivers. If you hook a king while fishing for something else, you have to let it go without taking it out of the water.

Kings have not shown up in nearshore waters yet. They should start arriving in the next week or two, according to area biologist Brendan Scanlon's June 5 fishing report.

This is the latest in a string of king closures across Alaska this spring. The state has shut down king fishing on the Tanana, Mat-Su rivers, Eagle River, the Karluk on Kodiak, and the Kenai for another summer.

What's still open

Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling fishing is open and productive on Norton Sound rivers. The Sinuk, Pilgrim, Nome, and Unalakleet are all fishing well right now. Dollies are feeding on salmon fry heading out to sea. Smolt imitation flies work best, though small jigs and spoons can produce too.

If you fish the closed drainages for other species, you can only use one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure. That rule is meant to cut down on how many kings get hooked and handled.

The closure runs through August 15 or until biologists determine there are enough kings to allow some harvest. Contact Brendan Scanlon at (907) 459-7268 for more information.