Alaska Outdoor Digest

The source for important, timely news on hunting, fishing and the outdoors in Alaska.

“Where have Kings gone?” TU King Salmon panel Tuesday night
Trout Unlimited Alaska is hosting a chinook salmon panel Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 49th State Brewery in Anchorage, as an opportunity for the average Alaskan to sort out what trends have been occurring with regard to king salmon in recent years, to learn from the experts, and to see what... Read more
BofF to consider Cook Inlet closures on all fishermen
By Lee Leschper Should all Alaska fishermen, commercial and non-commercial, be closed out of fishing when salmon runs are not meeting escapement goals? Specific to Upper Cook Inlet, should sport fishermen and dipnetters also be blocked from fishing, when commercial fishermen are restricted because a run is low or... Read more
Board of Fish meets in Anchorage this week
The Alaska Board of Fisheries will meet October 17-19, 2017, at the Egan Civic & Convention Center, 555 West 5thAvenue, Anchorage, Alaska beginning at 8:30 am. No regulatory action will be taken at this meeting, but sport fishermen should watch several of the agenda change requests, that could affect 2018 salmon... Read more
NOAA wants feedback on rec halibut quota idea
The Federal authority overseeing Alaska halibut fisheries is considering a formal arrangement for selling commercial halibut quota to charter operators.  NOAA is asking for public comment on the concept. The press statement this week said in part: NOAA Fisheries is proposing to authorize formation of a recreational quota entity... Read more
Setnetter testing way to kill fewer kings
Could it be that a few enterprising commercial fishermen are finding a way to protect more Kenai king salmon, while also protecting their own setnet fishery? Elizabeth Earle, writing for the Peninsula Clarion on Kenai, continues to do some of the best reporting in Alaska on fishing issues, especially... Read more
Kenai flooding likely starting Friday
Kenai fishermen and boaters need to be aware that flooding is likely from Cooper Landing through the middle river starting Friday, as the Snow Glacier ice dam is failing and releasing a huge amount of water below Kenai Lake. The link below provides more details but expect rising water... Read more
UPDATE: Board of Fish in Anchorage this week
The Alaska Board of Fisheries will meet October 17-19, 2017, at the Egan Civic & Convention Center, 555 West 5thAvenue, Anchorage, Alaska beginning at 8:30 am. No regulatory action will be taken at this meeting, but sport fishermen should watch several of the agenda change requests, that could affect 2018 salmon... Read more
Ship Creek silver limit goes up to six fish
The good to great season on downtown Anchorage’s favorite fishery continues, as ADF&G announced Friday that the daily limit on silvers in Ship Creek goes to six per day. It’s been a strong year of fishing and salmon runs on Ship Creek, with a good June run of king... Read more
Valley fishermen get face-to-face with Commissioner
Tuesday night’s public meeting in the MatSu Valley with ADF&G Commissioner Sam Cotten to hear from local anglers is shaping up to be one of the larger of its kind in recent memory. Cotten is expected to respond to public and legislative outrage over the heavy drift net fleet... Read more
Sockeye run limping to finish
The late sockeye run on the Kenai has gained some late momentum this week. Several days of 30,000 to 40,000 fish per day into the river is moving the run closer to its million fish minimum escapement. The jury is still out on whether this was a small or... Read more