Yukon summer chum run tops 900,000 projection, opening subsistence windows across drainage

The 2026 Yukon River summer chum run has exceeded its preseason forecast by more than twofold, opening the first meaningful subsistence harvest windows of the summer across much of the drainage. The opening is constrained, though: Chinook salmon is not meeting escapement goals, several upper-river areas remain closed to salmon fishing, and access in federal public waters is limited to federally qualified subsistence users.

As of July 6, an estimated 743,302 summer chum had passed the Pilot Station sonar, and ADF&G's inseason projection puts the full run above 900,000 fish, well inside the drainagewide escapement goal range of 500,000 to 1.2 million fish. That is a major change from the preseason outlook issued in March, when ADF&G projected only 345,600 fish and said flatly that "Fishing for summer chum salmon will likely remain closed all season." By June 30 the inseason projection had already climbed past 650,000 before reaching the current estimate.

ADF&G has opened selective-gear subsistence windows from the Coastal District through District 4 and the Koyukuk River, with retention windows running through July 12 in the lower river and as late as July 28 in upper subdistricts. Pink and sockeye salmon may also be retained during these openings. In federal public waters, the summer chum subsistence fishing opportunity in District 4 and the Koyukuk River is limited to federally qualified subsistence users. Subdistricts 5-D Lower, Middle, and Upper are closed to salmon fishing, as are Subdistricts 6-A, 6-B, and the Upper Tanana Area. Subdistricts 5-A, 5-B, and 5-C have all gillnets closed, with small-mesh nonsalmon gillnets reopening July 20. Personal use salmon fishing in Subdistrict 6-C is closed until further notice. During closure periods, nonsalmon fishing remains open with selective or nonlethal gear such as dip nets, hook and line, beach seines, hand lines, longlines, and fyke nets.

Chinook conservation restrictions remain fully in force; any Chinook caught must be released alive immediately. Run timing is later than average, and the fall chum Stock of Management Concern designation moves the fall season start three days earlier than normal in each district. New 2026 rules also require fish wheels to use seine-type webbing and smooth, foam-lined chutes to reduce salmon injury.

Weekly Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association teleconferences are scheduled Tuesdays at 1 p.m.; the call-in number is 1-800-315-6338, participation code 98566#. For daily sonar counts, call 1-866-479-7387 or the ADF&G Emmonak office at 1-907-949-1320, Monday through Friday.