Area Sport Fishing Reports
Kodiak
The king salmon escapement fell below the biological escapement goal (BEG) of 4,800 - 8,400 fish with a weir count of 394 king salmon. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 21, which is similar to historical run timing. The Ayakulik River king salmon run has seen declines since 2006 and was designated as a stock of concern by the Board of Fisheries in 2020. The escapement objectives have been met some years; however, in the most recent years the escapement objectives have not been met and the 2024 weir count was the lowest in recent history.
AA preseason emergency order effective April 1, closed king salmon fishing on the Ayakulik River drainage and only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure was allowed.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 4,800-8,400 |
| Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 394 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 394 |
The king salmon escapement was below the BEG of 3,000 - 6,000 fish with a weir count of just 76 king salmon. The Karluk River king salmon escapement has been below the BEG most of the last 20 years, though the goal was achieved from 2018-2020. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 18, which is similar to historical run-timing. The 2024 weir count was the lowest on record and one of the lowest king salmon returns in the State. The Karluk River has not been open to the harvest of king salmon since 2007 and sport fishing for king salmon has been entirely closed since 2008.
A preseason emergency order effective April 1, closed the Karluk River drainage to sport fishing for king salmon and only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure was allowed.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 3,000 to 6,000 |
| Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 76 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 76 |
The king salmon escapement fell below the BEG of 1,300 - 2,700 fish with a weir count of 1166 king salmon but was a much improved count over the previous several years. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 20, which is similar to historical run timing. While the Chignik River king salmon run has not seen as prolonged declines as Kodiak Island runs, it fell below the BEG 6 of the last 7 years.
A preseason emergency order was issued effective June 1 to close the Chignik River downstream to Mensis Point for sport fishing for king salmon and restrict tackle to only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure. On June 13, the area closed in the Chignik River to king salmon fishing and bait and tackle restrictions was expanded to include the entire Chignik Lagoon.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 1,300-2,700 |
| Estimated Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 1166 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 1166 |
The weir count for king salmon was 3,542 fish. This was within the BEG of 2,400 - 4,400 salmon. There is no retention in this fishery throughout the season based on regulation. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 5, which is similar to historical run timing.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
| Escapement Goal Range | BEG = 2,400 to 5,000 |
| Total Harvest | 0 |
| Weir Count | 3,542 |
| Preliminary Escapement | 3,542 |
Each year the Olds River, American River, and/or Salonie Creek are stocked with up to 80,000 king salmon smolt. The stocked Kodiak road system streams had low returns again in 2024 and there was little harvest in this fishery. Very few fish were observed at the Olds or at Salonie Creek and no fish at American River. Egg take goals were not met this year with only 5 spawning pairs collected. To compensate for this shortfall, coho salmon will be stocked to supplement king salmon production. The 2024 king salmon egg take should produce about 20,000 smolt and is well below the target of 200,000 king salmon smolt. Coho salmon will be taken again from Pillar Creek in early November to supplement this shortfall.
In 2024 the upper portions of the Olds River and Salonie Creek were closed byemergency order effective July 11 to all sport fishing to accommodate brood stockcollection for the egg take.
The early sockeye salmon escapement below the BEG of 150,000 - 250,000 fish with a weir count of 67,743 sockeye salmon. Little harvest occurs upstream of the weir and escapement is likely equal to the weir count.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The early sockeye salmon escapement fell within the BEG of 140,000 - 280,000 fish with a weir count of 221,701 sockeye salmon. An unknown amount of harvest of sockeye salmon occurs above the weir, though it is minimal compared to the size of the run.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the BEG of 75,000 - 170,000 fish with a count of 78,504 sockeye salmon at the Frazer Lake fish pass.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The sockeye salmon escapement was above the BEG of 5,000 - 8,000 fish with a weir count of 9,704 sockeye salmon. No harvest occurs upstream of the weir which is located just downstream from Buskin Lake and escapement is equal to the weir count. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 29, which is later than historical run-timing.
On July 3, the bag limit for sockeye salmon was increased to 5 per day by emergency order.
The sockeye salmon escapement was above the BEG of 15,000 - 35,000 fish with a weir count of 66,110 sockeye salmon. No harvest occurs upstream of the weir and escapement is equal to the weir count. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 24, which is later than historical run timing but similar to the last 5 years. This is the largest freshwater sport fishery on Kodiak by harvest for a single stock and the sockeye salmon run has been above the BEG most of the last 10 years. The 2024 run was still ongoing at the time the weir was pulled in mid-August.
On July 11, the sockeye salmon bag and possession limits were increased to 10 fish inthe Saltery Cove Drainage by emergency order.
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 2,000 to 10,000 fish with a weir count of 7,641 sockeye salmon. No harvest occurs upstream of the weir and escapement is equal to the weir count. The mid-point of the run occurred on July 24, which is later than historical run timing but similar to the previous 5 years. This is the first season using the weir-based SEG versus the aerial survey based SEG and bag limits were able to be liberalized due correspondingly.
On July 11, the sockeye salmon bag limit was increased to 4 fish per day by emergency order.
On July 27, the Pasagshak River drainage was reopened to sport fishing for sockeye salmon and bag limits were restored.
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the BEG of 20,000 - 50,000 fish with a weir count of 32,218 sockeye salmon. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 21 which is later than historical run timing but similar to recent years.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
The SEG for Buskin River coho salmon is 4,700 - 9,600 fish and the 2024 weir count was 2,238. The mid-point of the run typically occurs in the third week of September, however, the last 5 years have seen much of the Kodiak Road Zone coho salmon escapement in October and it is unknown at this date if the weir count is a complete count. Estimates will continue to be made into October as information is gathered.
No management actions were implemented during the 2024 sport fishery.
The lower bound SEG for Olds River coho salmon is 500 fish and the 2024 run is ongoing. The 2024 run appears to be average so far, though no surveys have been conducted to date. The Olds River coho salmon run is assessed via in season drone surveys, though conditions were poor to get reliable survey estimates. Final escapement estimates will be documented via post season foot surveys in late October or November.
No management actions have been implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season so far.
The lower bound SEG for American River coho salmon is 400 fish and the 2024 run is weak so far. Foot and drone surveys conducted in late September showed no more than 30 fish in the drainage and the run does not appear it will achieve the SEG. Final escapement estimates will be documented via post season foot surveys in late October or November.
The American River was closed to coho salmon fishing and the use of bait restricted byemergency order on September 25.
The lower bound SEG for Pasagshak River coho salmon is 1,200 fish and the 2024 run is ongoing. The 2024 run appears to be average. The latest drone survey counted 2,326 coho salmon in Lake Rose Teed. The Pasagshak River coho salmon run is assessed via in season drone surveys but final escapement estimates will be documented via post season foot surveys in November.
No management actions have been implemented during the 2024 sport fishery season.
PDF of Summary, which includes tables of Escapement Goals and Escapements - including some prior years.