This is announcement #3 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.

Chinook salmon are just beginning to move up the Kuskokwim River. About 4,300 Chinook salmon have passed by the Kuskokwim Sonar by June 10. Based on the preseason forecast of 128,000 to 200,000 Chinook salmon, it is likely that spawning escapement goals will be achieved.

In Subsistence Sections 4 and 5 of the Kuskokwim River, the annual harvest of Chinook salmon in 2025 was about 4,500 fish. Given the current assessment of the Chinook salmon run, and the ability to provide for the additional harvesting of non-salmon species, providing Chinook salmon fishing opportunity in Subsistence Sections 4 and 5 is warranted.
The department will continue to monitor the Chinook, chum, sockeye and coho salmon runs throughout the season through projects with research partners. Inseason data will be reported and discussed at the Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Working Group meetings.

New Management actions
• Effective 12:01 am Friday, June 12 in Subsistence fishing in Sections 4 and 5 will open to gillnets until further notice.
• Gillnets shall be 6-inch mesh or less and must not exceed 25 fathoms in length and 45 meshes in depth.

Due to low observation of Chinook salmon in the Aniak river in recent years and the precautionary approach:

In the state waters of the Aniak River and the Aniak Box
• Gillnets will remain closed
• 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. Non-chinook fish may be kept.

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.