The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports that Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages are closed to sport fishing. The decision was made citing protecting the returning king salmon and ensuring sport fishing opportunities in the future. The decision is effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 5th through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 15th.
A total of 127 king salmon had been counted on the Anchor River on June 1st using a combination of video weirs and sonar. By June 1st, in years when the Anchor River sustainable escapement goal was not achieved, an average of 300 king salmon had been counted. Based on the 2018-2020 Anchor River king salmon run timing, the escapement is projected to be less than 2,000 kings in 2021.
Area Management Biologist Mike Booz:
“This year’s Anchor River king salmon run does not look strong enough to support further sport fishing opportunities this season. Closing these streams to sport fishing, along with the nearshore closure in the Upper Cook Inlet salt waters, will give us the best chance of achieving the escapement goals.“
This move comes in conjunction with another emergency order, which closes king salmon catching, including catch-and-release, in the Upper Cook Inlet saltwaters north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00′ N. lat.) and within one mile of shore from June 5th through July 15th.
Booz said:
“King salmon counts have been below average this year at most of our monitoring locations throughout Cook Inlet. ADF&G is managing this fishery conservatively to minimize the harvest of local stocks. Anglers will still be able to fish for other species in these waters and target king salmon in lower Cook Inlet since there are no restrictions to the summer saltwater fishery south of Bluff Point.“