By Jessica Edwards
Poor projected returns for king salmon in Southeast Alaska mean a
regionwide one-fish per day limit for anglers this year, and a 48 percent drop in
allocated commercial harvest.
Fish and Game biologist Rich Chapell said limits set by the Pacific
Salmon Commission were meant to protect king runs. "The forecast for Chilkat River
kings is very poor, between 1,250 and 2,450 fish," Chapell said. "The one-fish
bag limit will help a lot to reduce the harvest of Chilkat River kings throughout
Southeast Alaska."
Escapement data indicated marine survival of king salmon has taken a
nosedive the past three or four years, he said.
The low end of the Chilkat River escapement goal is 1,850 king salmon,
he said.
Sportfishing restrictions are strictest for non-resident anglers, who
can keep three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length for the year if the fish are
caught before June 30. Between July 1 and July 15, the annual limit for non-residents
drops to two kings. After July 15, the annual limit drops to one fish.
That means if a non-resident angler caught two kings as of June 30,
they’d reached their annual limit, Chapell said. All non-resident anglers, including
those from Canada (who can purchase non-resident licenses at the same price as a resident
license), must record in ink on the back of their license any king salmon harvested in
Southeast.
Haines Sportsman’s Associa-tion president Kim Larson said numbers
of king salmon turned in during the annual derby, held in late May and early June, had
dropped in recent years. "There were up to 125 (fish) a few years back," said
Larson, who has been a derby organizer for the past nine years. She said 57 fish were
submitted in 2005, 48 in 2006, and 49 in 2007.
"I don’t know if (the limit) will affect derby numbers,"
Larson said. "I just hope there’s enough fish for people to catch and have
fun."
Size limits for fall-caught kings affect residents and non-residents
alike. King salmon taken between August 1 and September 30 by all anglers, resident or
non-resident, must exceed 48 inches in length, making only trophy-sized fish available for
harvest. An exception to the fall size limit is made for a 10-day period beginning August
15 around Juneau to allow for the annual Golden North king salmon derby.
Chapell said this fall limit would drop harvest rates considerably.
"We’ve preserved the opportunity to fish throughout the year," he said.
"We just can’t take home as many fish."
Exceptions made in recent years during June and July for hatchery
stocks returning to Taiya Inlet may materialize again this year, he said, as a decent
return was expected. "We don’t want any incidental harvest of wild stocks."
Chapell said enforcement and public education efforts will be stepped
up this year, and said new wildlife trooper Ricky Merritt would play an active part in
making sure king salmon limits were observed.
Releasing kings from subsistence nets was extremely important, he said,
as there was no allocation for subsistence harvest. "Please let all the kings
go," he said. "Last year we did not make escapement goals, so every fish makes a
difference."
King salmon in Southeast Alaska are managed on a regionwide basis.
Commercial king salmon harvest is limited to 138,650 fish in Southeast Alaska, with 5,930
alloted to gillnetters, 7,310 allowed for seiners, and 125,410 for trollers. Sportfishing
limits are set at 31,350 fish.
