(Fairbanks) – Due to a preseason forecast for a below-average Kuskokwim River king salmon run, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing the entire Kuskokwim River drainage (including all tributaries) to sport fishing for king salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 31 through Thursday, August 31, 2025. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing, in all waters of the Kuskokwim River drainage. This does not include the Kuskokwim Bay drainages of the Arolik, Goodnews and Kanektok Rivers. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used in the Kuskokwim–Goodnews Area. All king salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

The Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 07.365) allows for sport and commercial harvest opportunity on surplus king salmon in excess of escapement and subsistence needs after June 11. Indications are that the 2025 Kuskokwim River king salmon run will be similar to the 2024 run. In 2024, the estimated total run for Kuskokwim River king salmon was approximately 176,619 and the spawning escapement was approximately 143,919, above the upper bound of the drainagewide escapement goal range (65,000 – 120,000). However, there were substantial closures of the subsistence fishery, and restrictions to the subsistence king salmon fishery are expected again in 2025.

The numbers of king salmon returning to the Kuskokwim River will be closely monitored using sonar counts, test fisheries, and reports from fishers. In accordance with the Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Plan, if the data suggests that the run is large enough to provide harvest opportunity on surplus king salmon in excess of escapement and subsistence needs, the sport fishery may open.

For additional information contact John Chythlook, Kuskokwim-Goodnews Area Management Biologist at 907-459-7361 or john.chythlook@alaska.gov.

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