KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The sockeye salmon bag and possession limit in the Buskin River drainage has been increased for the largest of the returning red salmon. In an announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, sport anglers, starting June 9, can now keep five sockeye salmon 20-inches or longer per day.
The bag and possession limit for the fish under 20-inches remains at 10 reds per day.
The liberalization of the sport fishery on the Buskin is to temper over-escapement, which the Department thinks is inevitable. The escapement goal is a range of 5,000 to 8,000 sockeye, but as of Tuesday the weir count was 3,317. By closing time on Wednesday, the escapement was up to 4,067.
The sockeye run to the Buskin drainage this year is ahead of the 10-year average, according to Fish and Game figures. It’s also about 2,400 more than recorded by this date last year.
