Buskin River Sockeye Bag Limit Boosted

Jay Barrett/KMXT
More good news for anglers looking to fight some salmon this summer – the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is increasing the bag and possession limit in the Buskin River Drainage for sockeye. The Department had already increased the bag limit on the Afognak River. Starting at 1 minute after midnight Wednesday morning, the bag limit for sockeye 20 inches or longer will be five fish per day, with five in possession.
It turns out the red salmon return is going strong at the Buskin, as it is elsewhere in the Kodiak Management Area, and there is concern the escapement goal will be exceeded.
In a release by Kodiak Area Management Biologist Donn Tracy, he notes the biological escapement goal range is 5,000 to 8,000 fish, and the weir count is already over 4,000. He writes that the Department is now projecting the escapement will exceed 8,000 even with the additional sports harvest opportunity.
The increased bag limit is in effect until further notice.