Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay
PDF of Summary, which includes tables of Escapement Goals and Escapements (2013-2022).
Based on inseason information from anglers and guides, the inriver king salmon abundance appeared to be low with the run appearing to be slightly late and fishing generally being below average. Effort appeared to be near average.
On July 21, 2022, the daily bag and possession limit for king salmon, 20 inches or greater in length, was reduced to one fish and the annual limit was reduced to two fish in all fresh and salt waters of Bristol Bay that were open to retention of king salmon.
Alagnak River
Inseason reports from anglers and guides indicated a low inriver abundance of king salmon with the run appearing to be slightly early and fishing generally being below average. Effort appeared to be near average.
On July 21, 2022, the daily bag and possession limit for king salmon, 20 inches or greater in length, was reduced to one fish and the annual limit was reduced to two fish in all fresh and salt waters of Bristol Bay that were open to retention of king salmon.
Nushagak-Mulchatna River
The preliminary estimate of king salmon passing the Portage Creek sonar was 44,434 salmon. King salmon are managed to achieve an inriver return of 95,000 fish, to provide for a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 55,000 - 120,000 spawning salmon.
Commercial, sport, and subsistence catch information indicated average run timing with a return that was well below the historical average. Approximately 5,325 king salmon were harvested during the sockeye salmon commercial fishery. Harvest estimates for the sport and subsistence fisheries are not currently available. Reports from anglers, guides, and subsistence users suggest a below average harvest in the sport fishery and subsistence fisheries. Effort appeared to be near average.
On July 7, 2022, the bag and possession limits for king salmon, 20 inches or greater in length, were reduced to one fish with an annual limit of two in the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage.
On July 13, 2022, retention of king salmon of any size and the use of bait were prohibited in the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage.
Togiak River
Based on inseason reports from anglers, guides, and subsistence users, inriver king salmon abundance was low with the run appearing to be near average timing. Fishing success was generally below average for the duration of the run from late June through late July. Effort appeared to be near average.
On July 21, 2022, the daily bag and possession limit for king salmon, 20 inches or greater in length, was reduced to one fish and the annual limit was reduced to two fish in all fresh and salt waters of Bristol Bay that were open to retention of king salmon.
Naknek River
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) range of 800,000 - 2.0 million fish for the Naknek River with an estimate of 1.9 million salmon.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
Kvichak River
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the SEG range of 2.0 - 10.0 million fish for the Kvichak River with an estimate of 4.2 million salmon.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
Alagnak River
The sockeye salmon escapement exceeded the lower bound SEG of 210,000 fish with an estimate of 1.7 million salmon.
On July 9, 2022, the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon were increased to ten fish in all waters of the Alagnak River drainage.
Nushagak-Mulchatna River
The sockeye salmon escapement exceeded the SEG range of 370,000 - 900,000 fish with an estimate of 3.5 million salmon.
On June 29, 2022, the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon were increased to ten fish in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage.
Wood River
The sockeye salmon escapement exceeded the SEG range of 700,000 - 1.8 million fish with an estimate of 3.7 million salmon.
On July 1, 2022, the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon were increased to ten fish in all waters of the Wood River drainage.
Togiak River
The sockeye salmon escapement was within the SEG range of 120,000 - 270,000 fish with an estimate of 242,412 salmon.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
Coho Salmon
Naknek River
Based on reports from anglers and guides, inriver abundance of coho salmon was average for the duration of the run from late July through early September. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
Nushagak-Mulchatna River
Sport and subsistence catch information indicated an average return during 2022. Approximately 1,789 coho salmon were harvested in the commercial fishery. Harvest estimates for the sport and subsistence fisheries are not available; however, angler, guide, and subsistence user reports suggest an average harvest in the sport and subsistence fisheries. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
Togiak River
Based on reports from anglers and guides, inriver abundance was good for the duration of the run from early August through early September. Effort appeared to be near average.
No management actions were implemented during the 2022 sport fishery season.
