Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay
Based on inseason information from anglers and guides, the inriver king salmon abundance appeared to be fair with the run appearing to be slightly late and fishing generally being below average. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
Inseason reports from anglers and guides indicated a fair inriver abundance of king salmon with the run appearing to be slightly early and fishing generally being below average. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The preliminary estimate of king salmon passing the Portage Creek sonar was 41,893 salmon. King salmon are managed to achieve an inriver return of 95,000 fish, to provide for a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 55,000 - 120,000 spawning salmon.
Commercial, sport, and subsistence catch information indicated average run timing with a return that was well below the historical average. Approximately 4,340 king salmon were harvested during the sockeye salmon commercial fishery. Harvest estimates for the sport and subsistence fisheries are not currently available. Reports from creel staff, anglers, guides, and subsistence users suggest a low abundance with more difficulty in harvest in the sport fishery and subsistence fisheries. Effort appeared to be near average.
On July 3, 2024, retention of king salmon of any size and the use of bait were prohibited in the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage.
Based on inseason reports from anglers, guides, and subsistence users, inriver king salmon abundance was low with the run appearing to be near average timing. Fishing success was generally below average for the duration of the run from late June through late July. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) range of 800,000 - 2.0 million fish for the Naknek River with an estimate of 926,112 salmon.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the SEG range of 2.0 - 10.0 million fish for the Kvichak River with an estimate of 6,644,490 salmon.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon escapement exceeded the lower bound SEG of 320,000 minimum fish with an estimate of 2,356,560 salmon.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon escapement exceeded the SEG range of 370,000 - 900,000 fish with an estimate of 1,708,693 salmon.
On July 3, 2024, the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon were increased to ten fish in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage.
The sockeye salmon escapement exceeded the SEG range of 700,000 - 1.8 million fish with an estimate of 4,404,654 salmon.
On July 3, 2024, the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon were increased to ten fish in all waters of the Wood River drainage.
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the SEG range of 120,000 - 270,000 fish with an estimate of 361,578 salmon.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
Coho Salmon
Based on reports from creel staff, anglers and guides, inriver abundance of coho salmon was average for the duration of the run from late July through early September, with the peak occurring during mid-August. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
Sport and subsistence catch information indicated an average return during 2024. Approximately 21,453 coho salmon were harvested in the commercial fishery in the Nushagak district. Harvest estimates for the sport and subsistence fisheries are not available; however, angler, guide, and subsistence user reports suggest an average harvest in the sport and subsistence fisheries. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
Based on reports from anglers and guides, inriver abundance was good for the duration of the run from early August through early September. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
PDF of Summary, which includes tables of Escapement Goals and Escapements - including some prior years.