(Palmer) - To protect returning king salmon and ensure fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation for the Little Susitna River drainage effective 6:00 a.m. Saturday, May 1 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2021. Sport fishing for king salmon is restricted to catch-and-release only in the Little Susitna River drainage from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway. In addition, sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure. A single-hook is defined as a hook with only one point. Any king salmon caught, must be released immediately. A person may not remove a king salmon from the water before releasing the fish.

“The Little Susitna River achieved its escapement goal last season with a catch-and-release fishery in place,” stated Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey. “With no noticeable trend in abundance over the past several years, a cautionary approach to management is again appropriate. The SEG is likely to be achieved in 2021 given a comparable run size as in 2020 with catch-and-release fishing practices.”

In conjunction with this restriction, emergency order 2-KS-2-07-21 restricts fishing for king salmon in Units 1 - 6 of the Susitna River drainage to catch-and-release only and reduces fishing time in Unit 2 of the Susitna River to seven days per week from Saturday, May 1 through Monday, June 14, 2021, and then only on Sunday and Monday for three consecutive weekends starting Sunday, June 20 (June 20 - 21, June 27 - 28, and July 4 - 5). Sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna River drainage. Please review the emergency orders in their entirety.

This management strategy is designed to provide sport fishing opportunity on the Little Susitna River and achieve the king salmon escapement goal during 2021. A weir on the Little Susitna River will be used to gauge run strength inseason.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey at (907) 746-6300.

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