Yukon River chum salmon sport fishing closes July 22 over weak fall run

Yukon River chum salmon sport fishing closes July 22 under a state order driven by a projected fall run too weak to meet U.S.-Canada treaty obligations, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced.

The closure covers state waters of the entire Yukon River drainage, takes effect at 12:01 a.m. July 22, 2026, and runs through December 31, 2026. The Tanana River drainage is explicitly excluded. Catch-and-release is not permitted; anglers who hook a chum while fishing for other species must release it immediately without lifting it from the water.

Why the treaty threshold matters

Roughly 15 to 20 percent of Yukon River fall chum spawn in Canada, and the Yukon River Salmon Agreement within the Pacific Salmon Treaty framework sets a minimum number of fish that must cross the border. The 2026 run is not expected to reach that floor. Fall chum salmon begin entering the lower river in mid-to-late July, which explains the timing of the closure.

The projected return is weak, and as a precautionary measure, subsistence and sport fisheries for fall chum are closing to protect spawning escapement and meet treaty obligations. Alaska Department of Fish and Game said restrictions may be relaxed if inseason data show escapement goals are on track and subsistence opportunity in the drainage has been provided: "If inseason stock assessment information indicates that fall chum salmon escapement goals are projected to be achieved and subsistence opportunity in the Yukon River drainage is provided, sport fishing restrictions may be relaxed commensurate with run strength and subsistence restrictions."

Federal rules run separately

Anglers also need to check federal rules separately. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued special actions governing salmon harvest in federal public waters of the Yukon River, and those rules run parallel to, not in place of, the state closure.

For state questions, contact Yukon Area Management Biologist Lisa Stuby at (907) 459-7202 or [email protected].