(Glennallen) - The 72-hour period fishing period for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery, opening at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 13, has been extended by 6 hours to close at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 16. The fishery will then remain open for a 168-hour period from 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 17 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 23.

The Copper River personal use fishery is managed under direction of the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan (5 AAC 77.591). The plan establishes the season from June 7 through September 30 and directs the department to establish weekly periods based on Miles Lake sonar counts. During June 3 – 9, there were 194,793 salmon counted past the Miles Lake sonar. The preseason projection for this period was 104,696 salmon, which results in a surplus of 90,097 salmon. Copper River sockeye salmon migratory timing and the previous three-year average harvest and participation rates indicate sufficient numbers of salmon available to maintain 168 hours of fishing time during the week of June 17 – 23.

Additionally, radiotelemetry of sockeye salmon and recapture data for king salmon indicate travel times from the Miles Lake sonar to Chitina are currently averaging 7 days. Based on this information the 72-hour fishing period beginning at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 13 is extended an additional 6 hours to close at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 16.

As a reminder, the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan and the Statewide Personal Use Fishing Regulations state that:

• The annual limit is 25 salmon for the head of household and 10 salmon for each dependent of the permit holder.
• Only one king salmon may be kept as part of the total household annual limit.
• Personal use fishers must possess both their Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit and a valid resident sport fishing license when fishing.
• Steelhead cannot be kept and must be returned to the water unharmed.
• You must record your harvest on the permit immediately.
• Both tips of the tail fin of personal use caught fish must be clipped immediately upon landing a fish. Immediately is defined as before concealing the salmon from plain view or transporting the salmon from the fishing site. Fishing site means the location where the fish was removed from the water and became part of the permit holder’s bag limit.

All Alaska residents qualify to participate in this personal use fishery. You must have a Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit and a resident Alaska sport fishing license when dipnetting. Both dip net permits and fishing licenses can be obtained online at the ADF&G online store. A $15 fee is charged for the Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery Permit. Revenue from the fee supports the sanitation services at the fishery and trail maintenance from O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek.

The department urges dipnetters to respect the rights of private landowners in the area and familiarize themselves with the land ownership in the area before fishing. For information on access across private lands contact Chitina Native Corporation at (907) 823-2223 or Ahtna, Inc. at (907) 822-3476.

Additionally, the department urges dipnetters to follow trail signage and stay on designated boardwalks, built to accommodate trail users, including ATVs, constructed along the O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek section of the Copper River Highway Right of Way (ROW). The detours were constructed to avoid disturbing recently identified cultural sites within and along the ROW. Any violation or disturbance to protected cultural sites will result in immediate closure of this access road. For more information visit the Alaska Department of Transportation website describing the changes to the access route.

Information regarding the fishery can be found at the ADF&G website. This site provides information regarding the Upper Copper River fisheries including: fishery descriptions and summaries, maps of the subdistricts, a list of vendors that issue permits, and links to the sonar numbers and fishing schedule emergency orders.

The current fishing schedule is announced on the Chitina Fishery information line at (907) 822-5224. Please contact the information phone line prior to planning your trip to Chitina to ensure that the fishery will be open when you arrive. If you have any questions regarding the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dipnet salmon fishery, please contact the ADF&G office in Glennallen at (907) 822-3309.