(Anchorage)– The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is reducing the bag and possession limit for coho salmon in the North Gulf Coast Management Area effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 24 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024. The bag and possession limits for salmon, excluding king salmon are as follows:

• North Gulf Coast (Salt and fresh waters from Gore Point to Cape Fairfield and salt waters south of a line between Cape Resurrection and Aialik Cape, not including Resurrection Bay): 6 salmon per day, 6 in possession, of which only one may be coho salmon;
• Resurrection Bay Terminal Harvest Area (north of a line from Aialik Cape and Cape Resurrection): 6 salmon per day and in possession, of which only 3 per day and 3 in possession may be a coho salmon;
• Freshwaters open to salmon fishing in the Resurrection Bay drainage: 3 salmon per day and in possession, of which only 1 may be a coho salmon.

Based on the performance indicators of freshwater and saltwater sport fisheries throughout Southcentral Alaska, this year’s coho salmon run appears to be returning below average. Restrictions or closures have already been issued for the Northern Cook Inlet area, Anchorage Bowl Area, and the Valdez Terminal Harvest area in Prince William Sound. There are no escapement goals for any coho salmon stocks on the Kenai Peninsula; however, coho salmon are only monitored through the Bear Creek Weir in Seward. It is too early in the run to determine if enough coho salmon will return to Bear Creek to support broodstock goals. Given the lack of information and the fishery performance indicators, a precautionary approach is warranted for the remainder of the coho salmon run.

In conjunction with this emergency order, the department has also issued emergency orders for the Kenai Peninsula fresh and salt waters and the Prince William Sound salt waters. Please review emergency orders and advisory announcements in their entirety for the specific regulatory changes.

For additional information, please contact North Gulf Coast Area Management Biologist Brittany Blain-Roth at (907) 267-2186.

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