Alaska Fishing Report 9-24-10

[Saltwater Fishing]

Haines Area Fishing Report

September 21, 2010
Coho (silver) salmon

A total of 90 coho salmon (about average) were counted through the Chilkoot River weir through September 14, when the weir was removed for the winter.

Coho salmon are off to a slow start in the Chilkat River. A total of 662 coho salmon have been counted by the Chilkat River fish wheels through September 19, which is only 51% of the average count for this date. Early inseason data indicate that the 2010 Chilkat River coho salmon run will be small, but will meet the minimum escapement goal.

The Chilkat River is still occluded by glacial silt, but the water level is dropping. Coho salmon fishing usually improves when the water drops and clears in early October. Check the recent Chilkat River water level.
Chilkoot River pink and sockeye salmon

The season total Chilkoot River weir count of 30,830 pink salmon through September 14 was 79% of the long-term average for that project.

A total of 71,659 sockeye salmon were through the Chilkoot River weir through September 14, which is 4% above the long-term average. The escapement count was near the upper end of the 38,000 to 76,000 fish goal range. The sockeye salmon sport bag and possession limit for Chilkoot River and Chilkoot Lake will be 6 fish for the remainder of the year.
Chilkat River pink and sockeye salmon

The number of sockeye salmon caught (3,427 fish through September 19) in the Chilkat River fish wheels is 76% of average for this time of year. Sockeye can sometimes be caught in clear water tributaries of the Chilkat River.

The pink salmon run is finished. A total of 1,967 fish were counted through September 19, which is 51% of the long-term average, and 26% of the very high counts in 2009. Some pinks can be still caught in clear water tributaries of the Chilkat River.
Char and Trout

Dolly Varden char and cutthroat trout can be found in deep Haines area lakes (Chilkat Lake, Mosquito Lake, and Chilkoot Lake), in clear water tributaries to the Chilkat River, and in the Chilkoot River. Anglers should be aware of that the use of bait is prohibited when fishing in Chilkat Lake and Mosquito Lake or in their tributary and outlet streams. Use the fish regulation link below for details.

Sea-run Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are returning to the Chilkat and Chilkoot rivers after a summer of feeding in near-shore salt waters.

Upper and Lower Dewey Lakes, accessible by hiking above Skagway, hold isolated populations of eastern brook trout.
King salmon

ADF&G's Skagway creel survey ended on Labor Day weekend. Skagway anglers in Taiya Inlet were catching feeder kings, some smaller and some larger than the 28-inch minimum legal length for retention.

2010 king salmon regulations for Southeast Alaska salt water, including the Haines and Skagway area are:

•Resident anglers may keep two king salmon 28 inches or more in length per day and in possession with no annual limit;
•Non-Alaska resident anglers may keep one king salmon 28 inches or more in length per day and in possession, with an annual limit of three king salmon.

Because of a smaller than expected king salmon run in Pullen Creek, only half of the broodstock goal was collected. DIPAC released 250,000 king salmon smolt in Pullen Pond in Skagway in June. NSRAA released 80,000 king salmon smolt in Lutak Inlet, near Haines, in July.

Preliminary results from ADF&G's 2010 Chilkat River king salmon tagging study are that the inriver run was weak (1,600 large fish), and below the lower end of the inriver goal (1,850 to 3,600 large fish).

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http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FishingReports/

[Saltwater Fishing]

September 21, 2010
SITUK RIVER COHO SALMON BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS INCREASED TO FOUR FISH

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that the bag and possession limit for coho salmon 16 inches or greater in length in the Situk River will be increased to 4 fish per day. These changes will take effect at 12:01AM, on Wednesday, September 22, 2010.

The Situk River is managed for an escapement goal range of 3,300 to 9,800 coho salmon. Over 11,000 coho salmon were counted during a float survey on September 17. All indications are that the Situk River is experiencing a strong coho return this season and the total coho escapement is projected to exceed the upper end of the escapement goal range. The Situk River sport coho salmon harvest will not reduce the escapement below the escapement range with the increased bag and possession limit

Anglers are reminded that possession of more than two coho salmon while fishing other Yakutat roadside stream systems is prohibited. Daily and possession limits of coho salmon for all Yakutat road system streams other than Situk River remain at 2 per day.

For further information, anglers should call the Division of Sport Fish, Yakutat, at (907) 784-3222.

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September 23, 2010
MAT-SU AREA SCHOOL EGG-TAKES SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 28-30

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Matanuska-Susitna School District will be starting this year’s school classroom salmon egg incubation projects with a series of coho (silver) salmon egg-takes at Spring Creek, a tributary of Wasilla Creek, September 28 through September 30.

Mat-Su area school egg-takes will take place from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM on Tuesday, September 28; Wednesday, September 29; and Thursday, September 30. Classes will arrive throughout these three days to participate and learn about the salmon spawning and fertilization process. Over 1,300 students will attend this year’s egg-takes. The children will then take up to 400 eggs back to their classroom to watch their eggs develop and hatch. The purpose of the incubation program is to teach the students about the life cycle, biology, habitat requirements, and anatomy of these important fish. The fry from these incubation projects will be released in the spring at Matanuska Lake.

All of the egg-takes will occur at Spring Creek located off the Glenn Highway, Mile Post 36.5 Old Matanuska Road.

For more information, contact Samantha Oslund at 746-6332 or e-mail at Samantha.oslund@alaska.gov.

http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/EONR/