Upper Copper River king salmon sport fishery restricted to catch-and-release July 6

King salmon retention is prohibited on the Upper Copper River drainage starting Monday, July 6, after sonar counts at Miles Lake recorded the lowest large king salmon cumulative count on record for that date since species apportionment at the sonar project began in 2019, prompting ADF&G to act on concerns that the run may fall short of its escapement goal.

Effective 12:01 a.m. July 6, all waters upstream of Haley Creek, including the Gulkana, Klutina, and Tonsina Rivers, are restricted to catch-and-release for king salmon. Fish may not be retained or possessed, may not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately. Bait is also prohibited across all flowing waters of the drainage through 11:59 p.m. August 10, with only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures permitted.

Run Data Cited by ADF&G

As of June 28, only 17,123 large king salmon had been counted past the Miles Lake sonar, the lowest large king salmon cumulative count on record for that date since species apportionment at the sonar project began in 2019. The Copper River King Salmon Management Plan sets a sustainable escapement goal of 21,000 to 31,000 fish, and historical passage trends indicate roughly 82 percent of the run has typically cleared Miles Lake by that date. 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, corroborating the sonar data across multiple monitoring points.

ADF&G stated that due to concerns the king salmon escapement goal will not be met with continued sport harvest, restricting the Upper Copper River king salmon sport fisheries to catch-and-release and prohibiting the use of bait and treble hooks is warranted. The plan's stated purpose is to manage commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries "to achieve the king salmon sustainable escapement goal."

What Anglers Need to Know

Anglers with questions can contact Area Management Biologist Tracy Hansen at the Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309. The restriction expires August 10.