(Released: February 26, 2020 - Expired: June 30, 2020)

Division of Sport Fish
Dave Rutz, Director
Anchorage Headquarters Office
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518


Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
www.adfg.alaska.gov


Contact: Mike Booz, Area Management Biologist
(907) 235-8191

Gear Restrictions for the Anchor River and Deep Creek

(Homer) - In favor of protecting returning king salmon and ensuring sport fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing restrictions in the Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 16 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Sport fishing gear is restricted to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure during the king salmon season. Single-hook means a fishhook with only one point.

“Restricting the gear will likely reduce the harvest of king salmon, but still provides anglers the opportunity to fish for king salmon in the Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages,” stated Area Management Biologist Mike Booz. “Given the uncertainty of the 2020 king salmon run strength, this allows the streams to stay open to fishing until escapement monitoring gives us a better idea of run size.”

In conjunction with this restriction, emergency order 2-KS-7-05-20 reduces the annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from five to two fish in the Cook Inlet saltwaters north of the latitude of Bluff Point from April 1–July 15, 2020. In addition, emergency order 2-KS-7-07-20 restricts the bag and possession limit in the Ninilchik River drainage to one hatchery king salmon 20 inches or greater in length during the Memorial Day weekend (May 23–May 25, 2020), and the following two weekends and Mondays following each weekend, (May 30–June 1 and June 6–June 8). Please review the emergency orders in their entirety.

King salmon escapement monitoring will begin in May using sonar and underwater video on the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River. As the runs progress, run strength will be evaluated to determine future management actions.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Mike Booz or Assistant Area Management Biologist Holly Dickson at 907-235-8191.

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