(Seward) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is liberalizing existing sport fishing regulations by increasing the sockeye salmon bag and possession limit to 12 fish per day in the Resurrection River and adjacent salt waters of Resurrection Bay. These regulatory changes are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 21 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2024. The area of the bag and possession limit increase includes the fresh waters downstream from the Seward Highway and downstream from Nash Road to the ADF&G regulatory saltwater markers and in the marine waters of Resurrection Bay north of a line from Caines Head to the north point of Thumb Cove.

Anglers are reminded that snagging is not allowed in freshwater. Only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed in the freshwater area open to salmon fishing. Anglers are reminded to look for the saltwater markers that separate the fresh and saltwater fishing zones in the Resurrection River. For additional information on the Resurrection Bay salt waters and fresh waters, please review pages 72 and 74 of the 2024 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet.

“The Bear Lake sustainable escapement goal has been achieved and the hatchery broodstock requirements are anticipated to be met. Through June 18, 10,761 sockeye salmon have passed the Bear Creek weir and over 1,000 fish are holding just below it,” stated Area Management Biologist Brittany Blain-Roth. “Fishing has been good on some tides and slower on others. Anglers should be aware that they may have to put in extra effort to catch 12 fish.”

Anglers are reminded that cost recovery fishing is ongoing and can take place daily, at any time in Resurrection Bay until those goals are met. Once the cost recovery goals have been met, commercial openers could occur at any time and information on those openings can be found under the Lower Cook Inlet – Eastern District announcements on the ADF&G Commercial Salmon Fisheries webpage. Please respect these commercial activities when they are occurring.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Sport Fish Information Center at
(907) 267-2218.