Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su
Below average escapements since 2012 have resulted in preseason and inseason restrictions and closures on the Susitna and Little Susitna River drainages. This year marks the fifth year of king salmon management under the four stock-based goals set for the Susitna River drainage (Deshka, Yentna, Eastside, and Talkeetna). The preseason forecast of total run for Deshka River king salmon was 6,671 fish. Given this forecast was below the low end of the BEG and that the escapement goal was missed in 2023, the Deshka king salmon fishery started the 2024 season closed, as did fisheries within the Talkeetna, Yentna, Little Susitna, and Eastside Susitna areas. King salmon escapement goals for all systems were missed in 2024.
The BEG for the Deshka River of 9,000–18,000 king salmon was not achieved in 2024 despite the sport fishery remaining closed throughout the season. The final weir count was 3,440 king salmon. The age composition of the Deshka king salmon run and forecast for the 2024 season is pending analysis of age data collected at the Deshka River weir. A complete sonar count was conducted for Lake Creek and aerial escapement surveys were flown in late July on five streams contributing to the Yentna king salmon stock: Talachulitna River, Red Creek, Canyon Creek, Dickerson Creek, and Red Salmon Creek. Assessment of whether the Yentna OEG of 16,000–22,000 king salmon was achieved is pending data analysis; however, aerial counts were well below average, and the Lake Creek sonar count was similar to 2023.
A preseason emergency order effective May 1, 2024, closed king salmon fishing in the Susitna River drainage. Gear was restricted to only one unbaited, single hook, with a gap between the point and shank of the hook of one-half inch or less when fishing in Units 1–6 of the Susitna River drainage.
Assessment of Eastside Susitna streams (Units 2, 3, 5, and 6) comes from postseason aerial surveys over eight streams that are used to estimate run size and escapement of the Eastside (Unit 2 streams along the Parks Highway) king salmon stock and the Talkeetna River stock, which are two of the four Susitna River drainage stock goals in place since 2020. Counts were successfully conducted on Willow, North Fork, Kashwitna, and Montana Creeks, which collectively contribute to the Eastside king stock, and Clear and Prairie Creeks, which contribute to the Talkeetna stock. Assessment of the Eastside and Talkeetna stock goals is pending data analysis; however, counts on these systems were some of the lowest on record. A survey count of 272 on the Chulitna River was well below the SEG of 1,200–2,900 fish.
A preseason emergency order effective May 1, 2024, closed king salmon fishing on Eastside Susitna (Unit 2), the Talkeetna River (Unit 5), and the Chulitna River (Unit 6). Gear was restricted to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure with a gap between the point and shank of the hook of one-half inch or less.
The SEG for the Little Susitna River is 2,100–4,300 king salmon as assessed by weir and 700–1,500 fish as assessed by postseason aerial survey. This weir-based goal is the primary goal used for assessing escapement unless flooding or some other event results in an incomplete weir count. Use of video at this site has enabled fish to be counted even during periods of high spring runoff when water clarity is poor, which was the case throughout most of the 2024 season. Cold water temperatures likely impeded upstream migration of king salmon followed by flooding that occurred for 6 days mid-June, which made assessment of run strength using weir counts difficult. However, daily counts after recovery of the weir following the flooding were below past years in which the goal was achieved. The sport fishery was closed by preseason emergency order. The final weir count of 1,013 is considered incomplete.
A preseason emergency order effective May 1, 2024, closed king salmon fishing in the Little Susitna River drainage. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure with a gap between the point and shank of the hook of one-half inch or less in the waters normally open to king salmon fishing.
Sport fisheries on the Chuitna, Theodore, Lewis, and the Beluga River drainages are closed by regulation. An aerial survey was conducted on the Chuitna River in which 402 king salmon were counted, well below the SEG of 1,000–1,500 fish. The 2024 surveys of the Theodore River and Coal Creek counted only 33 and 38 king salmon, respectively.
A preseason emergency order effective May 1, 2024, closed king salmon fishing on all West Cook Inlet streams not already closed by regulation.
A weir was operated to count sockeye salmon escapement into Larson Lake, which drains into the Talkeetna River via Larson Creek (Susitna River drainage). Weirs on Chelatna Lake (Lake Creek) and Judd Lake (Talachulitna River) were not operated this year due to budget reductions. On Larson Creek, the sport fishery, which occurs at the confluence of Larsen Creek and the Talkeetna River, is relatively close to the weir, allowing for timely inseason management of the fishery. Water levels were favorable toward consistent daily fish passage and fishing success throughout the season. The Larson Creek SEG of 15,000–35,000 sockeye salmon was achieved with a final count of 16,133 fish within the SEG range.
A Susitna River personal use dip net fishery was implemented by the Board of Fisheries in 2020 to take place on the lower Susitna River from a point located approximately one mile below the old Susitna Station, downstream to the Alexander Creek turnoff/tip of Bell Island. This fishery is remote and only accessible by boat or short field performance aircraft capable of landing on gravel bars. The fishery is part of the Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Salmon Fishery management plan and occurs each Saturday and Wednesday between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. from July 10 through July 31. This was the fourth year of this fishery. Fishing effort mostly mirrored last season with relatively low participation. Fishing success was reported as poor each period through the end of July.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 season.
A weir is operated on Fish Creek to assess escapement and as a tool to manage the personal use dip net fishery. The SEG for the Fish Creek is 15,000–45,000 sockeye salmon. By management plan, a personal use dip net fishery may be opened by emergency order between July 15 and July 31, if the escapement is projected to be above 35,000 fish. The dip net fishery was opened on July 20 for 11 days. Positive dipnetting reports combined with a strong run suggests the harvest estimate may be average to above average for 2024 (5-year mean harvest of 22,500 sockeye salmon). The weir was successfully operated throughout the run and 37,793 sockeye salmon were counted. Sport fishing was open for 7 days a week beginning this season, a change made at the last Board of Fisheries meeting.
On July 20, the Fish Creek Personal Use Dip Net Fishery was opened for all salmon species, except king salmon through July 31.
Flooding prevented counting fish at the Deshka River weir during the season for six days beginning August 9, and the weir sustained major damage ending the weir project on August 16 after counting about 70% of the run based on historical run timing. The count of 642 coho salmon is considered incomplete, but it is unlikely the SEG of 10,200–24,100 fish would have been achieved. An emergency order was issued in August to close the Deshka River to the retention of coho salmon and prohibit the use of bait in all other waters of the Susitna River drainage.
On August 6, the bag limit for coho salmon was reduced to one fish and bait was prohibited in the Susitna River drainage.
On August 15, the Susitna drainage was closed to fishing for coho salmon.
The Little Susitna weir was inundated by flood waters at the beginning of the season from spring snow melt. However, when the weir became functional again starting June 22, it is unlikely any coho salmon were missed. Initially, weir counts were favorable and produced an upward trending projection; however counts drastically trailed off by the first quartile of the run on August 6. At this time, an emergency order was issued prohibiting the use of bait, followed by closure of the sport fishery to the retention of coho salmon. Beginning August 8, heavy rainfall led to high water events and a lost weir counts for eighteen days. Also, . The weir count of 964 fish is considered incomplete; however, it is likely the SEG of 9,200–17,700 was missed in 2024.
Fish Creek weir operated for the full coho salmon season. The SEG of 1,200–6,000 fish was not attained with a final count of 235 fish. This count was complete.
Jim Creek weir was funded to operate this season. A weak showing of coho salmon prompted closing the sport fishery to coho salmon fishing by mid-August at about the quarter point of the historical run timing for coho salmon. In addition to Jim Creek, Cottonwood, Fish and Wasilla Creeks were all closed to sport fishing for coho on August 15. Weir counts up to this point were tracking well below years when the weir was operated and the goal was achieved and similar to the count by this time during 2016 when the SEG was missed. The SEG for Jim Creek of 250–700 coho salmon is assessed postseason by a foot survey of McRoberts Creek, a small spawning tributary within the Jim Creek system. A survey conducted on September 23 counted 376 coho salmon, which was within the goal range.
On August 6, bait use was prohibited on the Little Susitna River and Jim Creek drainage.
On August 6, the bag and possession limit was reduced to one coho salmon on the Little Susitna River, and Jim Creek.
On August 15, the Little Susitna River was closed to coho salmon fishing.
On August 15, Jim Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Wasilla Creek and Fish Creeks were closed to coho fishing.
Coho salmon escapement is not monitored on West Cook Inlet (WCI) area streams and ADF&G must rely on trends in harvest and angler effort taken from the Statewide Harvest Survey and reports from anglers and guides when assessing these stocks. Sport fishing success was reportedly poor for the 2024 season.
On August 24, West Cook Inlet streams were restricted to two per day and four in possession for coho salmon.