Ship Creek king salmon fishermen will get some bonus days and fish this year, thanks to a better than usual return of kings, plus the desire to let anglers fish for silver salmon even after they’ve caught a king.
Fishing has slowed down the past week in the creek, although a few bright kings are still being caught on incoming tides and more silvers are being caught each day.
Here’s the full announcement from ADF&G:
(Anchorage) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is extending the season for king salmon on Ship Creek through 11:59 p.m. July 31, 2017. In addition, the bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length will increase to two per day effective Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at 6 a.m.
The annual limit and recording requirement for any king salmon 20 inches or greater that is harvested remains unchanged. Fishing at Ship Creek remains closed from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. through Thursday, July 13, 2017.
“King fishing is slowing down at Ship Creek,” Brittany Blain-Roth, the Assistant Area Management Biologist said. “Coho salmon fishing is beginning to pick up. Extending the season and increasing the bag and possession limit for king salmon at Ship Creek allows more opportunity for anglers to harvest king salmon, should they catch one while fishing for coho salmon.”
If an angler catches a king salmon while fishing for silvers prior to August 1, 2017, they will be able to keep it and continue fishing for coho salmon. However, if they harvest a second king salmon while targeting silvers, they will need to quit fishing on Ship Creek for the day.
A stream survey on Ship Creek was conducted on July 6, 2017. Nearly 500 king salmon were counted upstream of the fishery. Brood stock needs at the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery have been met.
