One door closes, another opens...

In this case, the doors are actually sections of the Kuskokwim and we don't know if either will remain open or closed, but here are some updates.

Fishing remains closed to all non-federally qualified users.

Chinook fishing is still closed to all user groups. 

NEW>> Mouth of the river upstream to Tuluksak:

There was scheduled to be an opening from Thursday, June 18 – Sunday, June 21, with the previously posted 4inch net restrictions. Due to low numbers at Bethel Test Fisheries and with the support of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, that opportunity to fish has been closed.  In short, all gill net fishing from Tuluksak down is prohibited until further notice. Those designated fishermen with Federal Community Harvest Permits may continue to fish during the closure, but this is the only exception. Fishing for species other than Chinook with legal gear is allowed, but any king salmon caught should be returned, live, to the water.

Tuluksak up to the boundary at Aniak:

The limited opportunity with restricted gear will remain open for this section of the river. As posted before that limited opening is:

·         6 a.m. Thursday June 18 until 6 a.m. Sunday June 21

Aniak to the Holitna:

The limited openings with restricted gear are still a go at this time.

·         6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 18 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, June 21;

·         6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 25 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, June 28.

Holitna up to the Headwaters:

The limited openings with restricted gear are still a go at this time.

·         6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 18 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, June 21;

·         6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 25 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, June 28;

·         6:00 a.m. Thursday, July 2 until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, July

NEW>> Elder Fishery Announced.

The ADF&G has announced that there will a subsistence salmon fishing opportunity for Elders from the Boundary at Aniak up to the Headwaters.  This Elder Fishery was supported by both the Working Group (KRSMWG) and the Commission (KRITFC) and is an effort to provide a more feasible opportunity for limited fishing to the upriver villages that are located above the Yukon Delta NWR boundary at Aniak. Here are the details of the limited opening:

Saturday, June 20 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

6-inch or less mesh gillnets, 45 meshes deep, and not to exceed 10 fathoms in length *

Alaska residents 60 years of age or older,

An Alaska resident 60 years of age or older must be present while fishing activities are being conducted but may be assisted by family members within the second degree of kindred.

"Second degree of kindred" means a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, spouse, grandparent, grandchild, brother- or sister-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law, father- or mother-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepsister, stepbrother, stepson, or stepdaughter (5 AAC 92.990).

There are no restrictions on how the net can be used for the Elder Fishery. Nets can be set as well as used to drift for this purpose only.

*  A gillnet longer than 10 fathoms may be used as long as only 10 fathoms is in a fishable condition and the remainder of the gillnet is either tied up or secured so that it is not in the water in a fishing condition.

Subsistence fishing restriction and regulations with Hook & Line, Dip Nets, and Fish Wheels remain the same.

And please remember we are in Conservation Mode and any Chinook accidentally caught should be returned live to the water.