For the second consecutive year, the Haines Sportsman’s Association has canceled its King Salmon Derby.
The group’s decision became official at a membership meeting Saturday, said president Charlie DeWitt.
“We decided it was in the best interest of the fish not to do it,” DeWitt said. “There’s no fish and it wouldn’t be profitable for us.”
Also, Fish and Game expects to place restrictions similar to last year’s on sport fishing in Chilkat Inlet, when angling was closed in the inlet April 15-July 15. An official press release on king management will be released early next month.
Because the forecast king return is below the state’s goal for the run, the state will defer to its king salmon management plan, said biologist Mark Sogge.
The state is projecting a return of 1,750, short of its in-river goal of 1,850-3,600 mature kings.
Last year, subsistence fishing was closed in Chilkat Inlet through July 15. Current plans are to allow subsistence fishing between the north point of Kochu Island and Glacier Point July 2-15, Sogge said.
Last year’s return of about 2,500 kings suggests the run can sustain that opening, as most of the run is farther upriver by that time, Sogge said. “I think we can allow subsistence fishing for sockeye in there without catching kings in great numbers.”
Sogge said he expects the Chilkat River will be closed to king fishing – excluding from 19 Mile to Wells Bridge – from June 15 to July 31, as was done last year.
Also, commercial fishing will be restricted to conserve kings similar to last year. “We plan to manage the commercial fishery very conservatively. We’ll pull everybody off those fish,” Sogge said.
Sportsman’s president DeWitt said his group has concerns about subsistence catches of king salmon.
The derby is a fundraiser that helps fund youth activities and scholarships. DeWitt said the group hasn’t discussed replacing the derby with another event.
The group will pursue putting a new trap house at its Layton Bennett range, a project that has grant funding. The group has two new trap machines as well, DeWitt said.