Chinook Angling Closed on Ayakulik

Jay Barrett/KMXT
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing sportsfishing for king salmon in the Ayakulik River drainage on Monday.
In a release, the department points to a poor escapement of just half of the lower end of the biological escapement range of 4,000 to 7,000 spawners. The total weir count on Tuesday of 1,963 kings indicates more measures are necessary to get those numbers up.
Sportsfishing for other species in the Ayakulik remain unaffected, but anglers may only use an unbaited, single hook, artificial lure and any incidentally caught kings must be released immediately.
The closure remains in effect through July 25th.