Deep Inlet Chum Return – Another Challenge
We are weighing whether to close Deep Inlet and surrounding waters to chum fishing. We will be making the decision on Tuesday in order to get an announcement out this week. Currently, we are considering three options: Close Deep Inlet THA, south Sitka Sound seine fishery (ADFG authority), and troll non retention (ADFG authority) of chum salmon in south Sitka Sound beginning Thursday. Close Deep Inlet THA, south Sitka Sound seine fishery (ADFG authority), and troll non retention (ADFG authority) of chum salmon in south Sitka Sound beginning Sunday. Remain open Medvejie program needs 80,000...
Read MoreHidden Falls Broodstock Update
We had all the chum broodstock necessary to meet our goals – 150,000 adults for 160 million eggs destined for release at Kasnyku (50.5 million), Takatz (50.5 m), SE Cove (35 m), and Deep Inlet (24 m). A set of environmental circumstances has somewhat thwarted our efforts. Before there is any panic, we have 131 million eggs incubating and expect to get more (we took 6 million on Sunday). Eggtakes began normally in mid July, a little early but not unusual. The low snowfall last winter affected late July freshwater flows at Hidden Falls which we have had to deal with in past years. When...
Read MoreDeep Inlet Lull – Between Summer and Fall Runs
I am dedicating these comments this evening to Botso. He let me know fishermen wanted to hear what is happening with the fall Medvejie run. I probably should have put my thoughts down sooner, so thanks for the encouragement Mr. Eliason. So far 530,000 chum have been caught at Deep Inlet by trollers, gillnetters and seiners; almost all of those are from the Hidden Falls summer run stock (it preformed about double forecast). The real question is ‘will the fall run materialize?’ Naturally, I don’t know but reviewing the historical run timing, there are years when the fall run...
Read MoreHidden Falls Down, Deep Inlet Up
Hidden Falls chum continue to show nearly 90% five year olds in a weaker than expected return, at least so far . That translates to less than 20,000 four year old chum caught. Without a better showing of fours in the next opening, meeting the broodstock goal of 170,000 may be difficult. Therefore, the Sunday July 6 opening hangs in the balance. DIPAC is seeing similar high numbers with some 80% of the return five year olds. However, the DIPAC chum return is 3 to 4 times as large, and therefore broodstock is less of a concern. Deep Inlet by contrast is performing much better. The total...
Read MoreHidden Falls & Deep Inlet Chum Return Out of the Blocks
It is too early to predict what will happen with the chum return at either Hidden Falls or Deep Inlet. There have been years at Hidden Falls when there were only 8,000 fish caught by the week ending June 28 which ended up with total returns for those years at 2.7 m (’99) and 3.1 million (’00) chum salmon. There have also been years when catches have been in excess of 350,000 by June 28 and the run ended up at 1.3 million (2013). Total catch to date at Hidden Falls is 43,000 chum with one opening to go for the week. Therefore, it is likely the week will end behind the twenty year...
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