Deshka River Opens for King Salmon Harvest

On Friday, June 18th, The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) opened the Deshka River to the harvest of king salmon.  The fishery had been closed to harvesting the fish because of poor runs in the previous few years.

According to Area Management Biologist Sam Ivey, ”The 2021 run on the Deshka River appears to be performing better than forecast with a lot of 5-year old kings returning this season.”

The biological escapement goal for king salmon in the Deshka River is 9,000 to 18,000 fish. As of June 16, 2021, the cumulative passage of king salmon through the weir on river mile 7, was 9,528 fish, reaching the goal with half the season remaining.

For context, in 2019, only 2,702 king salmon had passed through the weir by June 16th.

The fish run has struggled since 2017, when numbers plummeted, leading Fish and Game to close the fishery to harvest.  Even with the closure, escapement numbers were barely met from 2017 through 2020. 

Currently, through July 13, bait and multiple hooks are allowed in the Deshka River, and anglers may keep one king salmon per day and have two in possession of 20 inches or greater in length.

Fishing is allowed 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. The Cook Inlet annual limit of five king salmon over 20 inches in length still applies.

Anglers are reminded that all other restrictions for king salmon taken in the previous Emergency Order remain in effect, with multiple restrictions in place for the Susitna River drainage. The change only applies to the Deshka River.