The state Department of Fish and Game this week made official closures to conserve king salmon. The agency has outlined the closures in recent weeks.
In a Monday press release, the agency said sport fishing and subsistence fishing would be closed in Chilkat Inlet until July 15.
The sport fishing closure goes further than previous closures that prohibited “retention” of king salmon in the inlet. Biologists said due to public concerns about “catch-and-release” king fishing and mortality of hooked kings, the state is prohibiting fishing in the inlet with king salmon gear such as large flashers and downriggers.
In addition, the king salmon bag and possession limit in Lynn Canal will be one fish 28 inches or larger.
Commercial fishing north of Seduction Point will be closed through the second week of the season, and fishing on the west side of Lynn Canal south of Seduction also will be managed conservatively, the state said.
The in-river escapement goal for Chilkat king salmon has not been met since 2011.