(Juneau) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced today that beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 24 through Saturday August 31, the following hatchery areas will be closed to king salmon fishing.

Auke Bay, Fritz Cove, Gastineau Channel

Within the designated saltwater hatchery sport harvest area consisting of the contiguous waters of Stephens Passage, Auke Bay, Fritz Cove and Gastineau Channel, enclosed on the west by a line running from the tip of Point Louisa to the navigational aid at the northern tip of Portland Island (58 ^o 21.13’N., 134 ^o 45.52’W) then along the eastern shore of Portland Island to its most southern point and ending on Douglas Island at the northern tip of Outer Point, and enclosed on the east by a line located approximately ¼ mile south of the Dupont dock and extending across Gastineau Channel between department markers (see attached map #1).

• Closed to king salmon fishing, king salmon may not be targeted or retained.

Macaulay Hatchery

The salt waters of Gastineau Channel within a 300-yard radius of the Wayside Park Fishing Dock (Channel Wayside fishing dock – see attached map #1 insert).

• Closed to king salmon fishing and snagging for all species.

King salmon returning to the Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. Macaulay Salmon Hatchery are not expected to meet broodstock goals this year. The return of hatchery produced king salmon to Juneau waters appears to be low based on the number of tag recoveries to date. Therefore, these closures are necessary to protect broodstock needed for future production.

King salmon fishing in Lena Cove remains open:

• The daily bag and possession limit is four king salmon of any size;
• King salmon harvested by nonresidents in this area do not count toward their annual limit.

Map 1. This map shows the hatchery king salmon regulations near Juneau

Fish Creek Pond

King salmon returning to Fish Creek Pond will be used to supplement what is returning to the hatchery. Both sources will be needed to achieve broodstock goals to maintain future production. This sport fishing closure will allow fish to gather and remain in the pond undisturbed. At the end of July, king salmon in the pond will be captured and used to help achieve broodstock needs.

• Closed to sport fishing for all species.

Map 2. This map shows the closed waters of Fish Creek Pond