Yukon Chinook count at Eagle stands at 1,633, a third of average; ADF&G launches telemetry study

Yukon River Chinook salmon are passing Eagle sonar at roughly one-third of the historical average, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says the run will not meet escapement goals in Alaska or Canada.

As of July 13, the Eagle sonar had recorded 1,633 Chinook against a historical average of 4,811. The U.S./Canada rebuilding target calls for 71,000 fish to cross the Canadian border. Subsistence fishing for Chinook is closed across virtually all Yukon districts, with mandatory live release required from all gear types.

Tagging Study Near Rampart Rapids

To learn more about what is killing fish before they reach spawning grounds, ADF&G has started tagging Chinook near Rampart Rapids. "This is the first year of an up to three-year effort to capture and tag up to 250 Chinook salmon each season near Rampart Rapids," the agency said. Anglers who find a tagged fish can call 1-877-467-2104.