Petersburg-area test fisheries close with a sixth week of below-average chum

Chum salmon harvests in Frederick Sound and lower Stephens Passage came in below average for a sixth straight statistical week, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said, as the Point Gardner and Kingsmill test fisheries concluded for the 2026 season. The results close out the final read on run strength for District 10 and Section 9-B before commercial fishermen head into the rest of the season without further test-fishery data.

The Petersburg Area Office released the results Aug. 1. The Point Gardner test fishery ran its sixth and final day July 31. Kingsmill ran its fifth and final day July 28. The F/V Obsession conducted both projects, completing all seven sets at each site. ADF&G cautioned that Kingsmill results are generally less conclusive than Point Gardner's, because that site can catch fish heading north to Frederick Sound as well as south to Rowan and Tebenkof bays. The department also noted it used the long-term 1994 to 2025 average for this week's comparisons, due to the low occurrence of test fisheries in statistical week 31 over the years.

"This is the sixth statistical week with generally below average chum salmon harvests, which indicates a below average chum salmon run," said Katie Taylor, the department's area management biologist. Chum catches on the final Point Gardner day averaged 33 fish per set, against a 1994 to 2025 average of 192. Kingsmill's final day averaged 29 chum per set, against 139.

Pink salmon told a less settled story. Harvests were well below average for the first four weeks of test fishing, rose to average or above in the fifth week and in the final Kingsmill period, then fell back below average on the last Point Gardner day. Kingsmill's final period produced 1,498 pinks per set, above the long-term average of 1,373. Point Gardner's final period produced 1,062, below an average of 1,643. Test results indicated the early pink run was very weak and the middle run may be compressed and below average, the department said.

Sex ratio sampling, which managers use to judge timing, pointed to an earlier-than-normal chum run. Pink sex ratios indicated later-than-normal timing until the final week, when they fell below average. Final sampling at Point Gardner found 47% male pink salmon and 57% male chum salmon. At Kingsmill, sampling found 59% male pink salmon and 49% male chum salmon.

The advisory does not include comment from Petersburg commercial fishermen, for whom weak chum and mixed pink returns bear directly on catch volumes, trip timing and seasonal income. No fishermen were interviewed for this article, and this account reflects only the department's side.

An earlier Alaska News article on the fifth update noted that pink harvests at Point Gardner had rebounded above the recent 10-year average on July 24, after four of the lowest weeks on record.