(Palmer) – The sustainable escapement goal (SEG) for Fish Creek sockeye salmon is 15,000 – 45,000 fish as measured at a weir located upstream of the area open to fishing. To date, a total of 11,630 sockeye salmon have passed through the Fish Creek weir. Based on these weir counts, ADF&G is projecting an escapement of more than 35,000 sockeye salmon. Therefore, it is justified to allow a personal use dip net fishery for salmon, other than king salmon, on Fish Creek as specified in the Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Salmon Fishery Management Plan.

Effective 6:00 a.m. Saturday, July 20 through 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2024, dipnetting for salmon, except king salmon, will be allowed only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. each day. Dipnetters may harvest salmon off the shore or a boat from the ADF&G markers located on both sides of the terminus of Fish Creek, upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately one-quarter mile upstream from Knik-Goose Bay Road.

This dipnet fishery is in conjunction with the Upper Cook Inlet dipnet salmon fisheries on the Kenai, Kasilof, and Susitna Rivers, and the total salmon household limit applies to a combination from all four fisheries. A 2024 Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Salmon permit and a resident sport fishing license is required and must be on you while dipnetting. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery. Dipnet permits are available at local ADF&G offices, ADF&G online store, and at participating vendors. Only one Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Salmon permit is allowed per household.

ADF&G reminds dipnetters to please stay off private property. The majority of property adjacent to Fish Creek downstream of the Knik-Goose Bay Road Bridge is privately owned. All of the property south of Fish Creek along Knik Arm is privately owned. Dipnetters trespassing across private property may be subject to a fine. Respect “no trespassing” signs. Permission to use private uplands for any reason must be obtained from the landowner. When accessing the mouth of Fish Creek, legal access is restricted to below the mean high tide line. Remember, all-terrain vehicles (four-wheelers) are not allowed in creeks or adjacent creekside property without a habitat permit. There is no launch for trailered boats from Knik-Goose Bay Road. The nearest public boat launch for trailered boats is the Ship Creek boat launch in Anchorage. Dipnetters are advised to use extreme caution when fishing lower Fish Creek due to mud and large tidal shifts.

Dipnetters are reminded to review the Fish Creek Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery regulations on page 82 of the 2024 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Palmer Office at (907) 746-6300.

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