A Soldotna sports fishing guide was arraigned June 23 for allowing four non-resident clients to illegally retain Cook Inlet king salmon and taking halibut for himself.
53-year-old Mel Erickson of the “Alaskan Gamefisher” was contacted by Wildlife Troopers on May 20th as he docked with four passengers from Pennsylvania. Officers say the fishermen all retained king salmon measuring more than 20 inches in length. The limit in that area is two king salmon; none of the fish were recorded on fishing licenses.
The violations were aided or allowed by Erickson, who posted photographs of the catches on Facebook. Those pictures were reported to Troopers.
The clients were 53-year-old Richard S. Matthews, 25-year-old Scott Z. Matthews, 56-year-old Scott L. Shue, and 67-year-old James E. Shue. Each received a citation.
Erickson also allegedly retained two halibut illegally during the trip while providing charter guide services to paying clients. Erickson was issued a misdemeanor citation for taking halibut in a manner inconsistent with the regulations of the International Pacific Halibut Commission or the NMFS.
He faces 43 charges including fishing or helping clients fish in an early-run special harvest area near Anchor Point, failing to record a king catch, taking an annual over-limit of kings, taking an annual over-limit of halibut, failing to retain halibut carcasses and failing to complete logbooks.
