2024 Sixth Season Announcement for Kuskokwim River Fishing Opportunities

Photo by Elyssa Loughlin

Contact: Spencer Rearden (907) 543-3151 | Spencer_rearden@fws.gov

Kuskokwim River Mainstem Fishing Opportunities

Pursuant to authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR) In-Season Manager, hereby announces two gillnet fishing opportunities from downstream of the Kalskag line to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River at the Refuge boundary; and a rod and reel opportunity in all waters within the Refuge boundary for Federally qualified subsistence users only:

Gillnet (Drift and/or set):

• August 5th from 09:00 am to 09:00 pm (12 hours)

• August 10th from 09:00 am to 09:00 pm (12 hours)

During these two opportunities, gillnets are restricted to 6-inch or less mesh and may not exceed 45 meshes in depth and 50 fathoms (300-feet) in aggregate (total set and drift gillnet) length below the Johnson River and 25 fathoms (150 feet) in aggregate (total set and drift gillnet) length above the Johnson River. All species of salmon may be retained during these opportunities. The salmon bearing tributaries and the Aniak Box listed in FSA-YD-24- 01 will remain closed to all gillnets. When these harvest opportunities expire, Federal public waters of the Kuskokwim River, downstream of the Kalskag Bluffs and Uknavik Slough (Kalskag Line) to the mouth of the Kuskokwim River at the Refuge Boundary (see maps), will return to closed to the use of gillnets by all users for the protection of Coho Salmon.

Rod and Reel:

• August 1, 2024 at 12:01 am until further notice, rod and reel fishing in all waters within the Refuge boundary, including tributaries and the Aniak Box, is open to the retention of all salmon.

This opportunity is for all waters within the Refuge boundary (including salmon-bearing tributaries listed in FSA-YK-24-01) as well as waters in the Aniak Box (see maps).