KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Salmon Catch June_9The first catch numbers for the just-opened Kodiak salmon season were released this (Thursday) morning by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and nearly 7,000 fish -mostly sockeye – were hauled in on the first day.
The Olga, Moser and Alitak Bay District reported a catch of 3,260 red salmon, while the Karluk, Northwest Kodiak and Southwest Afognak District reports 3,011 sockeye, plus 22 king salmon, 124 chum and one lonely humpy.
The Cape Alitak and Humpy-Deadman District had a catch of 432 sockeye, while the Southeast Afognak and Raspberry District added 40.
The total sockeye catch was 6,743, with 127 chum, 22 kings and that one pink, for a total catch on day one of 6,893 fish.
Meanwhile, escapement through Wednesday has been a mixed bag. According to Fish and Game numbers, the Karluk looks to be heading for another poor season, with sockeye down slightly from last year through June 9. With 5,458 reds being counted at the weir, it’s down about 15-hundred from this time last year. While it’s above 2008, it’s still a small percentage compared to this time in the years from 2001 to 2005, where between 111,000 and 278,000 reds had escaped.
Ayakulik red escapement is just over 37,000; Litnik is just over 23,000; Upper Station is almost 15,000 and the Chignik River is nearly 13,000. The Buskin River sockeye escapement is just over 1,500.
