08-05-2004, 04:33 AM
SITUK RIVER:
Water level in the Situk River is back up following heavy rainfall and as of July 29, the river is actually higher than average. Check out this great new link for current “real-time” [url "http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ak/nwis/uv/?site_no=15129500&agency_cd=USGS"]water levels[/url] as measured at the Situk River Nine Mile Bridge. Floating from Nine Mile Bridge is not a problem under current water conditions. Pink salmon have arrived in the river in good numbers now also.
· Situk River has re-opened to sport fishing above the Middle Airstrip;
· Retention of sockeye salmon above the Middle Situk Airstrip is still prohibited;
· Sockeye salmon bag and possession limits will continue at two fish downstream from the Middle Situk Airstrip.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that the Situk River would reopen to sport fishing upstream of an ADF&G regulatory marker located near the Middle Situk Airstrip. The area upstream of the Middle Situk Airstrip will remain closed to the retention sockeye salmon. The bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon 16 inches or greater in length in the Situk River, downstream from the Middle Situk Airstrip marker, will remain at 2 fish per day. These changes took effect at 12:01AM, on Thursday, July 29.
The Situk River drainage is managed for an optimum escapement goal of 50,000 sockeye salmon, with an escapement range of 30,000 to 70,000 spawners. The weir count on July 27 was 39,975 sockeye, however sport harvest of sockeye salmon above the weir has reduced the overall escapement to the lower end of the escapement range. Normally 87% of the sockeye salmon run has passed the weir by this time.
ADF&G biologists have reopened the upper Situk River to sport fishing because the escapement goal will be met and water levels in the Situk River have improved due to recent rainfall. As a result, sockeye salmon are again able to migrate unimpeded through the upper reaches of the Situk River system. Additionally, seasonal sport fishing effort has declined dramatically.
For further information, anglers should call the Division of Sport Fish, Yakutat, at (907) 784-3222.
Please check [url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region1/escapement/situk_weir.cfm"]weir counts[/url] for the current upriver salmon counts.
Snagging is prohibited - fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.
The daily bag limit for Dolly Varden char is 10.
The Situk River Weir is now operational. Boaters traveling downstream should gather enough momentum to carry them across the floating panel section of the weir opening. Should your boat get stuck on the panels, just give a holler and the weir crew will be glad to assist you.
BAIT IS PROHIBITED IN FRESH WATER – If you hire a guide, your guide will probably lose the privilege of guiding on the Situk, and the fine might spoil your trip… Other Yakutat Fresh Water Systems
Coho salmon should begin arriving consistently in freshwater systems in the Yakutat area by the last week of the month.
There is a daily limit of one king salmon greater than 20 inches in length and a seasonal limit of three kings over 28 inches in length for non-residents and guided anglers in Yakutat fresh waters other than the Situk. The daily bag limit for large king salmon is the same for Alaska residents, however, there is no annual limit for resident anglers. The daily limit for king salmon less than 20 inches in length is 10 fish.
Except as stated above, the use of bait in Yakutat fresh waters is prohibited, however bait may be used in the Ankau Lagoon system.
Snagging is prohibited in freshwater- fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.
MARINE ANGLING
Halibut fishing continues to be excellent off Ocean Cape and along the Yakutat Bay reef but unfortunately; spiny Dogfish are quite abundant again. The Yakutat marine sport coho fishery is doing well now from the Yakutat Bay Reef to Khantaak Island.
Retention of king salmon less than 28 inches in length is prohibited in saltwater and there is a daily limit of one fish and a seasonal limit of three kings over 28 inches in length for non-residents anglers in salt water. Upon landing a king salmon 28 inches or greater, non-resident anglers are required to immediately write the date and location of each king salmon harvested on the back of their sport fishing license. Non-resident anglers younger than 16 years of age and those carrying a non-standard fishing license are required to note this information on a card available from sport fishing license vendors. The daily bag and possession limit for resident anglers is 2 fish greater than 28 inches in length, regardless of whether they are guided or not, and resident anglers have no seasonal
king salmon limit.
The Yakutat area sport lingcod season is open now with a reduced bag and possession limit for all anglers, and size restrictions for guided and nonresident anglers. The lingcod bag and possession limit for all anglers is now one per day and two in possession in the Yakutat area. For guided and nonresident anglers, a minimum size limit of 32 inches and a maximum size limit of 42 inches will also be in effect. All lingcod retained by guided and nonresident anglers must measure between 32 inches and 42 inches (inclusive) in length. Guided and nonresident anglers may land lingcod only by hand or with a landing net. [center]YAKUTAT SPORT AND PERSONAL-USE DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING CLOSED.
[/center]
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces that sport and personal-use Dungeness Crab fishing in the Yakutat area will close effective 12:01AM, Monday, July 19.
Recent surveys by the Department of Fish and Game indicate that Yakutat area Dungeness crab stocks are not rebuilding following the closure of the commercial fishery in 2000. State Wide Harvest Survey estimates report that sport Dungeness crab harvests have declined also. Because these indications suggest that the stock is not rebuilding, the sport and personal use fisheries will be closed. The subsistence fishery will remain open as managers monitor harvest in the Yakutat area to determine if additional conservation measures are necessary.
Water level in the Situk River is back up following heavy rainfall and as of July 29, the river is actually higher than average. Check out this great new link for current “real-time” [url "http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ak/nwis/uv/?site_no=15129500&agency_cd=USGS"]water levels[/url] as measured at the Situk River Nine Mile Bridge. Floating from Nine Mile Bridge is not a problem under current water conditions. Pink salmon have arrived in the river in good numbers now also.
· Situk River has re-opened to sport fishing above the Middle Airstrip;
· Retention of sockeye salmon above the Middle Situk Airstrip is still prohibited;
· Sockeye salmon bag and possession limits will continue at two fish downstream from the Middle Situk Airstrip.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that the Situk River would reopen to sport fishing upstream of an ADF&G regulatory marker located near the Middle Situk Airstrip. The area upstream of the Middle Situk Airstrip will remain closed to the retention sockeye salmon. The bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon 16 inches or greater in length in the Situk River, downstream from the Middle Situk Airstrip marker, will remain at 2 fish per day. These changes took effect at 12:01AM, on Thursday, July 29.
The Situk River drainage is managed for an optimum escapement goal of 50,000 sockeye salmon, with an escapement range of 30,000 to 70,000 spawners. The weir count on July 27 was 39,975 sockeye, however sport harvest of sockeye salmon above the weir has reduced the overall escapement to the lower end of the escapement range. Normally 87% of the sockeye salmon run has passed the weir by this time.
ADF&G biologists have reopened the upper Situk River to sport fishing because the escapement goal will be met and water levels in the Situk River have improved due to recent rainfall. As a result, sockeye salmon are again able to migrate unimpeded through the upper reaches of the Situk River system. Additionally, seasonal sport fishing effort has declined dramatically.
For further information, anglers should call the Division of Sport Fish, Yakutat, at (907) 784-3222.
Please check [url "http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region1/escapement/situk_weir.cfm"]weir counts[/url] for the current upriver salmon counts.
Snagging is prohibited - fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.
The daily bag limit for Dolly Varden char is 10.
The Situk River Weir is now operational. Boaters traveling downstream should gather enough momentum to carry them across the floating panel section of the weir opening. Should your boat get stuck on the panels, just give a holler and the weir crew will be glad to assist you.
BAIT IS PROHIBITED IN FRESH WATER – If you hire a guide, your guide will probably lose the privilege of guiding on the Situk, and the fine might spoil your trip… Other Yakutat Fresh Water Systems
Coho salmon should begin arriving consistently in freshwater systems in the Yakutat area by the last week of the month.
There is a daily limit of one king salmon greater than 20 inches in length and a seasonal limit of three kings over 28 inches in length for non-residents and guided anglers in Yakutat fresh waters other than the Situk. The daily bag limit for large king salmon is the same for Alaska residents, however, there is no annual limit for resident anglers. The daily limit for king salmon less than 20 inches in length is 10 fish.
Except as stated above, the use of bait in Yakutat fresh waters is prohibited, however bait may be used in the Ankau Lagoon system.
Snagging is prohibited in freshwater- fish kept must have been hooked in the mouth.
MARINE ANGLING
Halibut fishing continues to be excellent off Ocean Cape and along the Yakutat Bay reef but unfortunately; spiny Dogfish are quite abundant again. The Yakutat marine sport coho fishery is doing well now from the Yakutat Bay Reef to Khantaak Island.
Retention of king salmon less than 28 inches in length is prohibited in saltwater and there is a daily limit of one fish and a seasonal limit of three kings over 28 inches in length for non-residents anglers in salt water. Upon landing a king salmon 28 inches or greater, non-resident anglers are required to immediately write the date and location of each king salmon harvested on the back of their sport fishing license. Non-resident anglers younger than 16 years of age and those carrying a non-standard fishing license are required to note this information on a card available from sport fishing license vendors. The daily bag and possession limit for resident anglers is 2 fish greater than 28 inches in length, regardless of whether they are guided or not, and resident anglers have no seasonal
king salmon limit.
The Yakutat area sport lingcod season is open now with a reduced bag and possession limit for all anglers, and size restrictions for guided and nonresident anglers. The lingcod bag and possession limit for all anglers is now one per day and two in possession in the Yakutat area. For guided and nonresident anglers, a minimum size limit of 32 inches and a maximum size limit of 42 inches will also be in effect. All lingcod retained by guided and nonresident anglers must measure between 32 inches and 42 inches (inclusive) in length. Guided and nonresident anglers may land lingcod only by hand or with a landing net. [center]YAKUTAT SPORT AND PERSONAL-USE DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING CLOSED.
[/center]
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces that sport and personal-use Dungeness Crab fishing in the Yakutat area will close effective 12:01AM, Monday, July 19.
Recent surveys by the Department of Fish and Game indicate that Yakutat area Dungeness crab stocks are not rebuilding following the closure of the commercial fishery in 2000. State Wide Harvest Survey estimates report that sport Dungeness crab harvests have declined also. Because these indications suggest that the stock is not rebuilding, the sport and personal use fisheries will be closed. The subsistence fishery will remain open as managers monitor harvest in the Yakutat area to determine if additional conservation measures are necessary.