Alaska Outdoor Digest

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

ADF&G COVID-19 guidelines  for Alaska sportfishing
With fishing fast approaching, Alaska fishing guides are frantically trying to determine what rules they’ll be working under this summer, assuming there will still be some form of mandates related to COVID-19. Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang has cautioned the sport fishing industry that state and local health mandates will get... Read more
Russian, Upper Kenai sockeye limit bumped to 6
By Lee Leschper Fire up the smoker and get out the coho flies!  Thanks to perhaps the best early sockeye run in a generation, ADF&G is increasing the daily and possession limits on the Upper Kenai and Russian River to 6 and 12, effective Friday. The fishery opened June... Read more
Key advisory committee meetings and elections this month; ACs offer local sportsman input to state action
Fish & Game advisory committees are scheduled to meet throughout Alaska in the coming weeks to discuss recent action by both boards of game and fish, as well in some cases hold elections for committee memberships. The committees are intended as the front line for local sportsman input into... Read more
Board of Fish rejects change in allocation criteria
The Alaska Board of Fisheries rejected a proposal from the Kenai River Sport Fishing Association to give more priority for non-commercial fishermen in allocating fish among Alaska user groups. The board voted 5-2 against Proposal 171 along pretty much historic commercial-sport fishing lines.  A more detailed recap of the... Read more
Who gets what fish?   BofF hearing allocation debate this week
The Alaska Board of Fisheries is in its second day of meetings in Anchorage on Saturday, beginning to take testimony on statewide proposals before the board. A lot of Saturday’s testimony was by commercial fishermen opposing proposal 171, a request by the Kenai River Sport Fishing Association for the... Read more
Getting involved in fishing regs 101
Have you always wondered why some fisheries are regulated the way they are? Is there a regulation you have been wanting to see change? Are you just looking to understand how regulations are made and why some are so confusing? If so, you should attend ADF&G’s next Fishing Forum.... Read more
Friday deadline for comments to Board of Game March meeting
Board of Game Southcentral Meeting Extended to March 14–19 (Anchorage) — The Alaska Board of Game will meet in Anchorage March 14–19, 2019, at the Anchorage Sheraton Hotel, 401 East 6th Avenue. The board will convene Thursday, March 14, at 9:00 a.m. to hear oral reports by agency staff.... Read more
Moose kills driver; ADFG wants your moose sightings
A Wasilla driver crashed into a moose crossing a road in the Valley community, killing the driver. Alaska State Troopers took the report just before 4 a.m. on Friday. A vehicle, a 2004 Nissan sedan, was found crashed near the intersection of Pittman Rd. and Greensward Dr. in Wasilla. ... Read more
Board of Fish rejects requests to curtail pink salmon stockings
Alaska’s Board of Fisheries on Tuesday rejected two proposals from sport fishing advocates to limit additional stocking of pink salmon into Alaska waters. The Kenai River Sport Fishing Association had submitted ACRs 1 and 2 to the board, with both requests to stop or reduce the take of more... Read more
Biologist advocates stop to hatchery stockings
Editor’s note:  Retired Alaska fisheries biologist Ben Van Alen has extensive experience in Alaska salmon management and shared this commentary, also provided ot the Alaska Board of Fisheries, opposing the proposed expansion of pink salmon stockings by Alaska hatcheries. By Ben Van Alen It is time for our experiment... Read more