Resurrection sockeye limit increased to 12

Fishing June 13, 2019 Lee Leschper

The gifts keep on coming from what’s certainly the most amazing start to the 2019 salmon season that most of us can remember. Limits...

Resurrection sockeye limit increased to 12

The gifts keep on coming from what’s certainly the most amazing start to the 2019 salmon season that most of us can remember.

Limits on sockeye in the Russian River and Upper Kenai are already increasing from three to six daily this weekend, and now ADF&G is upping the limit at the sockeye terminal fishery in Resurrection Bay to 12 per day.

Both the Russian and Resurrection Bay sockeye runs have already met or exceeded escapement goals and big waves of the fish continue to come in. The biggest challenge for Alaska anglers this weekend may be whether to go to Seward while that run is hot, or join the crowds on the Russian, or perhaps stay close to home and fish Ship Creek for the Slam’n Salm’n Derby, which starts Friday.

Here’s the official release on the Resurrection Bay Bay increase:

“The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is increasing the limits of sockeye salmon to twelve per day and twelve in possession in the Resurrection River and the northern saltwaters of Resurrection Bay and opens a section of the Resurrection River freshwaters effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 14 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2019. The area of the bag and possession limit increase includes the freshwaters downstream from the Seward Highway and downstream from Nash Road to the ADF&G regulatory saltwater markers and the marine waters of Resurrection Bay north of a line from Caines Head to the north point of Thumb Cove.

Anglers are reminded that snagging is not allowed in freshwater. Only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures or flies are allowed in the freshwater area open to salmon fishing. Anglers are reminded to look for the saltwater markers that separate the fresh and saltwater fishing zones in the Resurrection River. For additional information on the Resurrection Bay saltwaters and freshwaters, please review pages 78-79 of the 2019 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet.

“”As of June 11, 2019, more than 11,538 sockeye salmon have passed the Bear Creek weir, with large numbers of sockeye salmon still entering the river. Bear Lake sockeye salmon has a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 700 – 8,300 fish and is managed to pass 5,152-12,752 sockeye salmon past the weir at Bear Lake, which meets both the SEG and hatchery broodstock requirements. The upper end of the SEG has been exceeded and the brood goal will be exceeded.

“Fishing for sockeye salmon in the saltwaters of Resurrection Bay has been great,” stated Area Management Biologist Jay Baumer. “With the number of fish passing through, we hope this will provide anglers an additional opportunity to get some fresh sockeye.”

Anglers are reminded that commercial fishing will also be occurring in Resurrection Bay over the next few weeks. For additional information on commercial fishing periods, please visit the ADF&G Commercial Salmon Fisheries webpage. For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Sport Fish Information Center at (907) 267-2218.