Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Bristol Bay's ice is starting to break — and it's about to set off a cascade of fish and fishermen

Bristol Bay's ice is starting to break — and it's about to set off a cascade of fish and fishermen

by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read

ADF&G closes Eagle River to king salmon fishing

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed sport fishing for king salmon in the Eagle River drainage effective May 1 to protect returning fish. The closure runs through July 13.

by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read

Anchor River, Deep Creek closed through mid-July as king salmon returns fall short

Two of the Kenai Peninsula's most popular sport-fishing rivers are under emergency closure through July 15, with gear restrictions extending through month-end—a significant disruption to the summer fishing season that signals conservation concerns for king salmon stocks.

by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read

Kodiak king salmon bag limit cut to one fish as Karluk runs collapse

Alaska Department of Fish and Game reduced the Kodiak Area king salmon bag limit to one fish per day for the 2026 season and closed westside salt waters through June 30 after only 93 king salmon were counted in the Karluk River last season.

by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read

ADF&G opens youth-only king salmon fisheries on Kenai Peninsula

ADF&G is opening two youth-only king salmon fisheries on the lower Kenai Peninsula this week, providing rare fishing opportunities for anglers 15 and under during a period when adult fishing is typically restricted due to conservation concerns.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read

ADF&G warns moose attacks peak as calving season continues through June

ADF&G confirms that cow moose attacks on people and pets defending calves are a recurring annual problem, making this a timely public safety story as calving season peaks through end of June.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read

ADF&G opens Juneau hatchery area to king salmon retention June 1

The designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area opens Monday with generous limits (4 king salmon daily, any size) while the rest of Juneau waters remain closed until June 15—creating a concentrated early-season opportunity that will draw anglers to specific waters and impact local charter operations and dock activity.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read

King salmon sportfishing slows in Yakutat marine waters after strong week

King salmon sportfishing in Yakutat marine waters slowed over Memorial Day weekend after a strong prior week, with marine weather forecast to improve but questions about fish behavior or run timing remaining.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read

Bristol Bay lakes still ice-covered as May ends, compressing early-season fishing window

Most large lakes in Bristol Bay remain ice-covered as of May 28, blocking boat access for anglers and guides even as the calendar moves into the final days of May, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read

ADF&G closes Tanana River drainage to king salmon sport fishing through September 2026

Alaska Department of Fish and Game closes Tanana River drainage to king salmon sport fishing through September 2026 due to below-average Yukon River king salmon forecast; second consecutive season of emergency closures for Interior Alaska tributaries.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read

Chitina dipnet fishery tentatively set for June 10; low rivers and ice flows could delay opening

Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces tentative June 10 opening for Chitina Personal Use dipnet fishery, pending Miles Lake sonar counts and ice-flow conditions.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read

ADF&G launches three 24-hour fishing challenges for multi-species catches

ADF&G introduces three new 24-hour multi-species fishing challenges (Stream Slam, Stillwater Slam, Saltwater Slam) running through December 31, 2026, with certificates and stickers for successful anglers.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read

ADF&G to issue 10 mountain goat permits in Seldovia on June 10

ADF&G announces 10 mountain goat permits for Unit 15C, distributed in-person in Seldovia on June 10 in a two-hour window.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read

Alaska closes cow caribou hunting in Western Arctic as the herd hits 121,000

Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed cow caribou hunting in Units 22, 23, and 26A Southwest after the Western Arctic Caribou Herd declined to 121,000 animals with zero harvestable surplus for cows.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read

Kenai River king salmon fishery closed through mid-August 2026

Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed all Kenai River king salmon fishing, including catch-and-release, from May 1 through August 15, 2026, under emergency orders aimed at protecting weak salmon runs.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read

Eagle River king salmon fishery closed for 2026 season

ADF&G has closed all king salmon sport fishing in the Eagle River drainage from May 1 through July 13, 2026, under Emergency Order 2-KS-2-2-26, citing conservation concerns and poor stock productivity.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read

Ice Flows Delay Miles Lake Sonar, Chitina Dipnet Season in Limbo

Ice flows from Miles Lake are preventing the Alaska Department of Fish and Game from fully operating its salmon-counting sonar, creating uncertainty about whether the Chitina Personal Use dipnet fishery will open as tentatively scheduled on June 10, 2026.

by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read

Alaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate

This episode covers the week's major Alaska stories: a gas pipeline tax bill that added oil tax increases, the Point Thomson condensate trade-off for pipeline gas, Mount Edgecumbe enrollment crisis, and McNeil River bear sanctuary access proposals.

by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read

Are You Kitten Me? Alaska’s Fish “Waste” Just Found Its Second Life

by CamilleSutherland5mo ago2 min read