ADF&G Reopens Sections 4 & 5 of Kuskokwim river for subsistence fishing

Photo by KRITFC

This is an announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) that was released June 3, 2026.

Kuskokwim River Fishery Announcement #3

Emergency Order #3-S-WR-03-26

This is an announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) in Bethel for subsistence fishermen in the Kuskokwim River.

Subsistence Sections 4 and 5: From a line between the regulatory markers at the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge boundary near Aniak upriver to the headwaters:

  • Effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 12, subsistence fishing with set or drift gillnets will open. Gillnets shall be 6-inch or less mesh and must not exceed 25 fathoms in length and 45 meshes in depth.

  • Effective 12:01 a.m., Friday, June 12, all salmon species may be retained in all legal subsistence gear, which include gillnets, fish wheels, dip nets, beach seines, and hook and line.

In the Aniak Box: The state waters of the Kuskokwim River near Aniak, from a line formed between two points (lat 61° 35.264ʹ N, long 159° 33.459ʹ W) and (lat 61° 35.611ʹ N, long 159° 33.260ʹ W) upstream to a line formed between two points lat 61° 35.308ʹ N, long 159° 29.167ʹ W and lat 61° 34.731ʹ N, long 159° 28.939ʹ W (Figure 1).

  • Effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 12, subsistence fishing with gillnets will close until further notice. Theseclosed waters are in place to provide protection for Chinook salmon bound for the Aniak River Drainage.

  • Subsistence gillnet fishing (drift and set) is closed.

  • Subsistence fishing with hook and line for Chinook salmon is closed. Any Chinook salmon caught must be returned alive to the water. All other fish species may be retained.

  • Subsistence fishing with fish wheels for all fish species except Chinook salmon will be allowed until further notice. Fish wheels are required to have a live box with no less than 45 cubic feet of water, must be checked at least every 6 hours. Fish wheels may be equipped with a chute and must be closely attended while in operation. All Chinook salmon must be returned to the water alive and all other fish species may be retained.

  • Subsistence fishing with beach seines and dipnets will be allowed until further notice. All Chinook salmon must be returned to the water alive and all other fish species may be retained.

As previously announced: subsistence fishing with gillnets will close in Sections 4 and 5, from Aniak upriver to the headwaters, effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday June 11.

In the Aniak River: In state waters from the confluence of the Aniak River with the Kuskokwim River upstream to the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge boundary and from the Refuge boundary near the Buckstock River upstream to the headwaters:

The following subsistence management actions will remain in effect until further notice:

  • Subsistence gillnet fishing (drift and set) is closed.

  • Subsistence fishing with hook and line for Chinook salmon is closed. Any Chinook salmon caught must be returned alive to the water. All other fish species may be retained.

  • Subsistence fishing with fish wheels for all fish species except Chinook salmon will be allowed until further notice. Fish wheels are required to have a live box with no less than 45 cubic feet of water, must be checked at least every 6 hours. Fish wheels may be equipped with a chute and must be closely attended while in operation. All Chinook salmon must be returned to the water alive and all other fish species may be retained.

  • Subsistence fishing with beach seines and dipnets will be allowed until further notice. All Chinook salmon must be returned to the water alive and all other fish species may be retained.

The preseason forecast of Kuskokwim River Chinook salmon is for a range of 128,000 to 200,000 fish. Current assessment and harvest reports indicate that the Chinook salmon run is beginning to build in the lower Kuskokwim River. As of June 10, the cumulative Chinook salmon passage at the Kusko River sonar was about 2001 Chinook salmon, which was below the average cumulative passage of about 5,900 Chinook salmon (years 2018-2024).

In Subsistence Sections 4 and 5 of the Kuskokwim River, the annual harvest of Chinook salmon in 2025 was about 3,200 fish. Given the current assessment of the Chinook salmon run, and the ability to provide for the additional harvesting of non-salmon species, providing Chinook salmon fishing opportunity in Subsistence Sections 4 and 5 is warranted.

Kuskokwim River Salmon Working Group:

The next Working Group meeting will be held Wednesday, June 10 at 10 a.m., at the Bethel Fish and Game Office to review in-season assessment information and to determine subsistence fishing periods after the front-end closure. The public and stakeholders are invited to attend the meetings in person or via teleconference. To attend by telephone: call 1-888-788-0099, meeting passcode 849016 or join online through Zoom.us: meeting #816-6267-8969 passcode: 849016.

Further announcements will be made from the Bethel Fish and Game office, on the State of Alaska web site (http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main), local radio stations, and Kuskokwim River Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/KuskoRiverFishingADFG/). Advisory Announcements will be faxed to area villages. For additional information or questions regarding Kuskokwim Area fisheries, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in Bethel at 543-2433 or toll free at 1-855-933-2433.

For information regarding federal subsistence fishing regulations and any announcements, please contact the Yukon Delta NWR at (907) 302-5144.

For additional information concerning this advisory announcement: ADF&G: Sam Decker 907-459-7295 or Madison Hardwig 907-459-7213