Haines & Skagway Sport Fishing Report: September 22-28, 2008

October 1, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Haines, Skagway 

Report From Alaska Fish and Game

  • Haines & Skagway Sport Fishing Report
    September 22-28, 2008
  • The forecast for Chilkat River coho salmon is an above average run in 2008. The Chilkat River fish wheels caught 2,226 coho salmon through September 28, above the average of 1,899 fish.
  • The limits for coho salmon 16 inches or more in length are 3 per day and 6 in possession in the Chilkat River. The limits for coho salmon 16 inches or more in length are 2 per day and 2 in possession in the Chilkoot River. Anglers must abide by the bag and possession limits in the waters in which they are fishing, and multiple bag or possession limits may not be accumulated between waters fished.
  • The Chilkat River fish wheels captured 6,195 sockeye salmon through September 28, which is above the average of 4,235 fish by that date. Through September 25, the Chilkat Lake weir has counted 44,773 sockeye, about 2/3 of the escapement goal of 70,000 fish. The Chilkat River pink salmon run is mostly complete. The fish wheels caught 4,603 through September 28, above the average of 3,660 fish.
  • The last day of fish counts at the Chilkoot River weir was September 12. A total of 32,957 sockeye salmon were counted upstream this year, below the average (57,768) and below the escapement goal (50,000). The Chilkoot River weir passed a total of 15,105 pink salmon, less than half of the average (37,876). A total of 50 coho salmon were counted through the Chilkoot River, a good early run indicator, but the majority of the run will arrive in late September and in October.
  • King salmon catch rates are seeing a seasonal decline in the Haines and Skagway area. Port sampling in Skagway ended September 1.  The Southeast Alaska regional salt water king salmon bag, possession, and annual limits apply in the Haines and Skagway area. Through September 30, non-Alaska residents may retain a king salmon caught in salt water only if it is 48 inches or greater in total length.
  • King salmon broodstock collection in Pullen Creek was a success in 2008. Enough eggs were collected to continue stocking the Taiya Inlet and Lutak Inlet king salmon smolt release projects in coming years.
  • Based on ADF&G’s tagging study and spawning ground surveys, the abundance of Chilkat king salmon is within the goals in 2008. The Chilkat king escapement benefited from the closure of Chilkat Inlet to king salmon sport fishing in May and June, from low sport bag limits throughout Southeast Alaska, from harvest reductions by the commercial troll fleet, and from king salmon released by Chilkat Inlet subsistence gillnetters.
  • Dolly Varden and sea-run cutthroat trout are starting their migration from salt water back to fresh water over wintering areas.
  • Sport fishing for shrimp is closed in Lutak Inlet and Taiya Inlet for the remainder of 2008. This closure affects all non-Alaska residents. Alaska residents may continue to fish for shrimp in these areas under subsistence provisions. See a news release and map of the shrimp sport fishing closure area here
  • Data collected by the department indicate that shrimp stocks in northern Lynn Canal are depressed. The commercial catch volume and catch-per-unit-effort of shrimp in this area declined steadily over the past four years. The commercial pot shrimp fishery in Lynn Canal will remain closed in 2008. Lynn Canal, north of Seduction Point will be closed to sport fishing for shrimp through June to protect female shrimp during the egg hatch. Taiya Inlet and Lutak Inlet will be closed through the rest of the year to help these stocks rebuild.
  • The Southeast Alaska red and blue king crab personal use fishery is closed until further notice. For the most current information on this closure, please click here and here.
  • For information on Chilkat River salmon research projects conducted by the department, please visit our website.

  • Important Announcements and Reminders:

  • King Salmon Bag Limits: The king salmon bag and possession limits for sport anglers fishing in the marine waters of Southeast Alaska are as follows:
  • The resident bag and possession limit for king salmon is 1 fish 28 inches or greater in length.
  • The nonresident bag and possession limit is:
  •                 ○  May 1 through July 15, one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length;
                    ○  July 16 through September 30, one king salmon 48 inches or greater in length;
                    ○  October 1 through December 31, one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length.
  • Nonresident harvest limit:
    • From January 1 through June 30, a nonresident’s harvest limit is three king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length;
    • From July 1 through July 15, a nonresident’s harvest limit is two king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and any king salmon 28 inches or greater in length harvested by the nonresident from January 1 through June 30 will apply toward the two fish harvest limit;
    • From July 16 through September 30, a nonresident’s harvest limit is one king salmon, 48 inches or greater in length, and any king salmon 28 inches or greater in length harvested by the nonresident from January 1 through July 15 will apply toward the one fish harvest limit;
    • From October 1 through December 31, a nonresident’s harvest limit is one king salmon, 28 inches or greater in length, and any king salmon 28 inches or greater in length harvested by the nonresident from January 1 through September 30 will apply toward the one fish harvest limit;
    • Nonresident anglers must record all king salmon harvested, immediately, in ink, either on the back of their sport fishing license, or on a nontransferable harvest record immediately.
  • The maximum number of lines that may be fished from a charter vessel engaged in sport fishing charter activities is six lines or equal to the number of clients onboard the vessel, whichever is less.
  • These regulations are based on the 2008 preseason abundance index of 1.07 (very low) as determined by the Pacific Salmon Commission’s Chinook Technical Committee.
  • For more information about the sport fisheries in Southeast Alaska, contact the nearest Southeast Alaska ADF&G office or visit: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region1/index.cfm
  • Filleting and Heading Salmon is Prohibited in the Skagway Marine Boat Sport Fishery: Marine boat anglers returning to re prohibited from filleting, mutilating, or heading sport caught king salmon, coho salmon, and lingcod until the fish have been brought to shore and offloaded, unless the fish have been consumed or preserved onboard.  This regulation will also be in effect from June 2 - September 1 for marine boat anglers docking in Skagway. Anglers are allowed to gut and gill these fish before returning to port. For the purposes of this regulation, anglers are allowed to fillet and head fish on their boats once they are tied up at a docking facility.
  • The purpose of this restriction is to maximize fishery information available through our angler interview program. The department conducts on-site creel sampling during the fishing season at Haines and Skagway boat landing sites in order to estimate the amount of sport fishing effort, harvest, and contribution of hatchery fish and several important local wild stocks of king salmon to our local sport fisheries.
  • BEAR WARNING……Anglers should be aware that there have been a number of brown bear and human interactions along the Chilkoot River in recent years.  For example last year, a bear regularly obtained fish from anglers who refused to stop fishing when the bear approached.  This situation was very dangerous for both anglers and the bear.  The bear learned to associate anglers with food making a dangerous situation for all anglers and will likely result in the bear having to be killed.  You can help to reduce these incidents by following these guidelines:
  • Clean your fish in the river, and place fish remains in swiftly moving water.
  • Cease all fishing activity when a bear approaches to within 100 yards or at a point where the bear could obtain your fish if you hooked one, whichever is greater.  Immediately release your hooked fish (by cutting or breaking the fishing line) when a bear approaches to within 100 yards or at the point when it is attracted by your struggling fish, whichever is greater.  If anglers are in a boat, you may move to deeper water to maintain separation between the angler and the bear.  Make every effort (including releasing hooked fish) to prevent a bear from obtaining your fish. 
  • Store your food, fish and garbage in your vehicle (or bear-resistant container) at all times. Never leave your food, fish or garbage unattended.  We encourage you to clean your fish, to bag it immediately, and to store it in a cooler in your vehicle.
  • Do not cast at bears.
  • Do not eat along the river.
  • Avoid fishing early in the morning or late at night.  This is when bears are most active.
  • Avoid fishing in areas which bears are known to frequent such as the east shore (opposite side from the road).
  • Camp only in the campground at the lake or at one of the commercial campgrounds.
  • Use the outhouses provided in the campground. 
  • Leave pets in your vehicle, or have them under leash control at all times.  If you must feed your pet, do so at your campsite and clean up any dropped food.
  • Do not use firearms to scare or warn bears.  This could result in a wounded bear.
  • If a bear approaches, stand your ground and speak in a normal voice.  Never run away from a bear.  Don’t whistle, call to, or otherwise try to get a bears attention.
  • 2008 Sport Fishing Licenses and King salmon tags: Remember to buy your 2008 sport fishing license and king salmon tag (if going after kings) before heading for the water.
  • Yukon Resident Sport Fishing Fees: Residents of Yukon, Canada may purchase a Class 11, Yukon annual sport fishing license for $24 and a king salmon stamp for $10. In order to do so, Yukon residents need to provide to a license vendor a copy of their current resident Yukon sport fishing license and a valid Yukon Territory government issued identification card. If they have not met the Yukon’s requirements to be considered a resident, then they cannot purchase an Alaskan Yukon sport fishing license/king salmon tag. The special license is available from any license vendor, and also from the Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau Department of Fish and Game offices. However, Yukon residents can not purchase their license online. If you have any questions, please call the licensing office at 907-465-2376 or e-mail licensehelp@fishgame.state.ak.us . They will be more than happy to assist you.
  • Yukon residents are still considered non-residents and must comply with all regulations pertaining to non-residents. For example, Yukon anglers are allowed one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length per day and in possession, with an annual limit of three king salmon.
  • 2008 Sport Fishing Regulations Booklets: The 2008 Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary are available at Fish and Game Offices and many sporting goods stores throughout the Northern Southeast area.  If you are rusty on the regulations, please pick up a regulation booklet and refresh your knowledge prior to going fishing.
  • The Use of Bait: The use of bait is permitted year-round in the Skagway Area and in the Chilkat and Chilkoot River drainages except as noted here. The use of bait is prohibited year-round in Chilkat and Mosquito Lakes. The inlet and outlet streams to Chilkat and Mosquito Lakes are closed to bait fishing now through September 15. This prohibition on the use of bait stems from concern over hook-and-release mortality on cutthroat trout that must be released if below the legal size for harvest.
  • Steelhead Trout: There are very few steelhead trout in the Haines and Skagway Area. However if you happen to catch one, remember that steelhead must be at least 36 inches in length before they can be legally harvested. There is a 1 fish daily bag limit and 2 fish annual harvest limit per angler. Steelhead anglers must record their harvest on the back of their license. For those anglers not required to have a license, such as anglers under the age of 16 or resident anglers 60 years of age or older, a harvest record card is available at no charge from the department or local vendors.
  • Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and Clams: Many people in Southeast Alaska like to take clams for personal consumption. Clam digging is popular but comes with some risk, primarily due to contamination of clam tissue with potentially lethal toxins accumulated during the so-called “red tides.”  This is a condition where small, single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates (a type of algae), increase in abundance in the marine waters during warmer times of the year, and which can turn the local waters reddish in color. The dinoflagellates produce a group of toxins that are collectively referred to as paralytic shellfish poison, or PSP.
  • These toxins are a natural byproduct of the algae’s metabolism, and are accumulated in clams when they feed on the algae. People can get sick and even die if they eat clams contaminated with PSP. The risk goes up exponentially during the summer months when water temperatures increase and there are “blooms” of the dinoflagellate algae. Certain species of clams purge themselves relatively quickly of the toxins, others retain the toxins for considerable time, and can be hazardous to eat at any time of the year. Little neck or steamer clams are a safer target species because they tend not to concentrate the toxins as much, compared to butter clams, mussels, and even scallops. Mussels and butter clams can be very dangerous. Moreover, butter clams will retain the toxins for very long times. People should learn as much as they can about clam identification, PSP, and procedures to minimize risks of contracting paralytic shellfish poisoning, should they choose to take clams for consumption.
  • Fishing Guide Licenses and Logbooks: All sport fishing guides and owners of guiding services businesses must obtain a license from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. All businesses and guides registered in 2006 should have received instructions on how to obtain a license from the Department. If you did not receive instructions, or are new to these activities, you can get more information at http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/guides/Guide.cfm .  Guides and business can obtain licenses online at http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/guides/guideForms.cfm or you can apply at the Sport Fish Office in Haines (766-2625 or 766-3638). Additionally, all freshwater and saltwater fishing guides are required to fill out logbooks this year. Haines guides should come to the Haines Office and obtain their logbooks.  Please have your 2007 guide business license number with you. Sport fishing charter boats are no longer required to have a CFEC vessel license number (triangle and 12” numbers), but you will have to have either a AK number (DMV) or USCG Documentation number for your boat.  Business/guides in outlying areas can call the Haines or Douglas office (465-4270) and work with a department representative for obtaining logbooks.
  • If you are planning a trip to Haines or Skagway, you can learn current road conditions along the Haines and Klondike Highways here or at: http://www.gov.yk.ca/roadreport/.
  • Click for the latest weather forecast or view Haines weather via real time video cameras at: http://akweathercams.faa.gov
  • Have a safe and fun time while fishing! For more information, contact Richard Chapell, at (907) 766-3638, or email richard.chapell@alaska.gov.

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