King salmon sport fishing in the Chilkat Inlet north of Seduction Point is again closed from April 1 through July 15—the fifth consecutive year anglers have been shut out from king fishing locally due to population declines.
“Another year of not fishing the Chilkat king run,” said Alaska Department of Fish and Game sport fish biologist Rich Chapell. “We miss it.”
Chilkat king salmon met escapement goals the past two summers, but Fish and Game biologists are estimating a total run this summer of 1,500 Chilkat kings, below the minimum goal of 1,750.
“We’re trying to build some good brood years that will come back in another few years and make the run more solid,” Chapell said. “The 2018 escapement was less than 1,000 fish. At least through 2023, we’re going to have to be pretty careful about harvesting any Chilkat kings to let that weak brood year get up the river and continue to run.”
Fish and Game will prohibit retention of kings between April 1 and June 14 in Icy Strait, Chatham Strait, Stephens Passage and Lynn Canal south of Sherman Rock. From April 1 through June 30, anglers cannot keep kings in Taku Inlet.
The prohibition of keeping kings will last longer in local waters, from July 16 to Dec. 31 in Lynn Canal north of Sherman Rock, including Chilkat Inlet.
“That is because Chilkat king salmon are an inside rearing stock. They’re hanging around as younger fish. The mature spawners run up the Chilkat River each year. By mid-July, they’re all up,” Chapell said. “Next year’s spawners are still rearing in the saltwater in northern Southeast, especially in the Haines and Skagway area.”
In 2018, the Alaska Board of Fisheries identified the Chilkat king population as a “stock of concern.” Fish and Game has also limited time and area restrictions for the commercial fleet.
Fish and Game also is estimating king salmon run failures in the Taku, Stikine and Unuk rivers. The Situk River run in Yakutat-similar in size to the Chilkat run-is expected to exceed escapement goals.