This is an announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for subsistence fishermen in Sections 4 and 5 of the Kuskokwim River. This announcement applies to the section of river upstream from Aniak.
Currently subsistence fishing is open with all gears and all fish caught may be kept.

Chinook salmon are just beginning to move up the Kuskokwim River, research has shown the majority of the early arriving Chinook salmon travel to the headwaters to spawn. Based on the preseason forecast of 123,000 to 200,000 Chinook salmon, it is likely that spawning escapement goals will be achieved, however a precautionary approach is warranted early in the season. Beginning 12:01 a.m. on Thursday June 11, the “Front end closure” will go into place. This regulatory closure is intended to protect early arriving Chinook salmon as they move up the river and is shared by fishers from the mouth of the river to the headwaters.


Effective 12:01 Thursday, June 11 in Sections 4 and 5 AND in the state waters of the Aniak River:
Subsistence fishing with gillnets (drift or set) will close
Subsistence fishing with selective gears including hook and line, fish wheels, dipnets, and beach seines will be allowed but all Chinook salmon caught must be returned to the water alive.
The next Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Working Group meeting will be held Wednesdays at 10 am. Everyone is welcome.

*****To attend by telephone call 1-888-788-0099, meeting passcode 8 4 9 0 1 6 or join by Zoom on your computer from the website “Zoom.us” meeting code 816-6267-8969 and passcode 8 4 9 0 1 6. Meeting summaries and recording will be posted on the KRSMWG website.*****

For further questions please call the Bethel office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at 907-543-2433.