The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released a Yukon River subsistence fishing schedule update Tuesday, June 17th.

This year, the Chinook salmon run is forecasted to be well below average and insufficient to provide any surplus for harvest. Subsistence fishing closures will be based on historic Chinook salmon run timing and follow the salmon as they migrate upriver. When the summer chum salmon run is projected to meet the drainagewide escapement goal, fishing opportunities with selective gear types may be announced.

In District 3 and the Innoko River including Russian Mission, Holy Cross and Shageluk:

Chinook and chum salmon fishing is closed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60-feet or less in length and must be operated as a set net near shore.

Effective 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, all gillnets must be removed from the water in district 3.

Effective 8 p.m. Monday, June 23 until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10, all gillnets must be removed from the water in The Innoko River.

Fishing for nonsalmon is still allowed during this period but is limited to non-lethal or selective gear types including hook and line with a rod or pole, dip net, beach seine, hand line, longline, and fyke net.
Pink and sockeye salmon may be retained but Chinook and chum salmon must be released alive.

In Subdistrict 4A Lower, from ¾ of a mile downstream from Old Paradise Village upstream to Stink Creek, including the communities of Grayling and Anvik:

Chinook and chum salmon fishing is closed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60-feet or less in length and must be operated as a set net near shore.

Effective 8 p.m. Monday, June 23 until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10, all gillnets must be removed from the water.

Fishing for nonsalmon is still allowed during this period but is limited to non-lethal or selective gear types including hook and line with a rod or pole, dip net, beach seine, hand line, longline, and fyke net.
Pink and sockeye salmon may be retained but Chinook and chum salmon must be released alive.

The business hours for the Emmonak office are Monday thru Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and closed Saturdays and Sundays. If you have any questions about this, or any announcement, please call the Emmonak office at 907-949-1320.

The subsistence fishing schedule is available 24 hours per day by calling 1 (866) 479-7387.

Please note that there is a federal special action in place and that federal closures align with this announcement. You may contact Holly Carroll at 907-351-3029 for further information.