The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the first opening of the Southeast Alaska drift gillnet fishery will begin Monday, May 2, 2016. This opening is directed at returns of Stikine River king salmon and will occur in the following area:
District 8: will be open from 8:00 a.m., Monday, May 2 - 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 3, with some restrictions at the Stikine River, Beacon Point/Point Frederick Area, Bear Creek and Wrangell Harbor Area.
Gillnet Gear Restrictions: The gear allowed will be the standard length and depth (300 fathoms and 60 meshes); the minimum mesh size is 7 inches.
King salmon less than 28” that are harvested in the commercial drift gillnet fisheries may be retained and sold. King salmon less than 28” in length, and those of Alaska hatchery origin, will not be counted against the Alaska allocation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty harvest. Therefore, fishermen and tenders are asked to keep salmon harvested in Terminal Hatchery Areas separate from those harvested in District 8 and to make landings available for sampling by ADF&G samplers. Separating harvests and sampling fish will assist in fish accounting purposes in regards to the Pacific Salmon Treaty.
Reader Comments(0)