Upper Copper River King Limit Cut to One Fish Starting Thursday

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is cutting the king salmon sport limit in the Upper Copper River drainage from four fish to one, effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 25. The restriction applies to king salmon 20 inches or greater in length. Any king salmon already harvested from the drainage before that date do not count against the new one-fish cap.

The cut affects sport anglers and guiding businesses operating in the drainage. The department framed the action as a conservation measure, citing run data that points toward a potentially historic shortfall.

What the Numbers Show

As of June 20, only 15,243 large king salmon had been counted past the Miles Lake sonar, the lowest cumulative count on record for that date since species apportionment began in 2019. The Copper River King Salmon Fishery Management Plan directs the department to manage Copper River fisheries to achieve a sustainable escapement goal of 21,000 to 31,000 king salmon. Fish wheel capture rates at Baird Canyon and fish wheel recapture rates at Canyon Creek, operated by the Native Village of Eyak, also indicate low abundance. "Because king salmon abundance may be insufficient to allow unrestricted harvest in the sport fishery and achieve the lower end of the escapement goal, restricting the Upper Copper River drainage king salmon sport fishery is warranted," the department said.

The department said it will continue to evaluate inseason run strength and take appropriate management actions to meet the escapement goal. The restriction runs through August 10.

Anglers or guides with questions can contact Area Management Biologist Tracy Hansen at [email protected] or (907) 822-3309.