Fish and Game this week increased king salmon bag limits in Chilkat Inlet, an allowance that comes as a boost for the annual King Salmon Derby.
“It’s really good for the derby, especially for Canadians. They can enter one in the derby and keep their second fish if they want,” said Kim Larson of the Haines Sportsmen’s Association, the derby sponsor.
For fishermen between Seduction Point and Letnikof Cove, resident anglers have a bag and possession limit of three king salmon, 28 inches or longer and non-resident fishermen have a bag and possession limit of two kings, 28 inches or longer.
The derby also hasn’t fallen so late in the year since 2004. That’s good news, because kings have been returning late in recent years, Larson said at midweek. “We’re pretty excited. We’re hoping the weather stays just the way it is.”
The derby begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, offering a variety of prizes for kings turned in at the weighing station aboard the fishing boat Tiffany Lee at Letnikof Harbor. Derby fishing continues through Monday evening and starts up again Saturday, June 5.
Proceeds from the sale of the fish benefit scholarships and youth activities around town.
Sport fish biologist Rich Chapell said abundance of returning four-year-old fish last year gives the state confidence of a Chilkat run return between 4,000 and 5,200 fish. The state’s escapement goal is between 1,800 and 3,600 fish.
“We’re probably going to be in excess of escapement goals, so we’re allowing for an increased harvest,” Chapell said.
Local anglers are catching kings but catch rates were slow through Sunday, about 50 rod hours per catch, which is not untypical for this time of year, Chapell said. Many of the kings caught so far are juveniles feeding, not mature ones returning to spawn. “People are catching them but the average catch rate isn’t great. They should be arriving soon.”