The state forecasted a very healthy run of sockeye salmon in the Stikine River this season, which opened to subsistence fishing June 21. They projected around 176,000 sockeye, which is about 45% more than the average of 121,000 fish.
Although state biologists track the run, the U.S. Forest Service manages the subsistence fishery in the river near Wrangell Island. Ashley Bolwerk, a subsistence biologist for the federal agency, said the above-average forecast gave the green light to open up the Stikine to subsistence fishing.
“That’s a great sign, and means we definitely can have a healthy fishery, especially because this fishery is subsistence focused,” she said.
Bolwerk said 93 federal subsistence fishing permits have been issued so far this season, mostly to Wrangell and Petersburg residents. But she said in-season surveys indicate fewer sockeye have been harvested in the Stikine fishery than in past years.
“It’s always a little challenging to … hit the nail on the head with our surveys,” Bolwerk said. “But it does seem like the fishing has been a bit slower this year, at least at this point in the season.”
She said that’s likely because of weather conditions. There’s been a lot of rain in Southeast Alaska this summer. Higher water levels in the river can make catching fish more challenging.
Ted Hasbrouck is a longtime Petersburg resident who grew up subsistence fishing and hunting with his family. He said it’s harder to catch fish in a high river.
“The currents in the back, the eddy is so swift that you know it’ll push your net, it’ll clap your net onto the beach, and the anchor won’t hold and there’s lots of sticks and debris in the water that you’re catching,” Hasbrouck said.
But when Hasbrouck went out on July 3, the river’s water levels had dropped after a break from the rain.
“There’s been years where we’ve had to take three days of setting the net just to get our [catch] limit,” he said. “But this year was good.”
Hasbrouck drove his boat upriver for about an hour until he got to a cabin. He set his net at noon, then checked it in the evening. He had 16 sockeye. When he checked back the next morning, he had 26.
The catch limit for Stikine sockeye salmon is 40 per household. Hasbrouck is just fishing for himself and said he’s done for the season.
The subsistence fishing season for sockeye salmon in the Stikine River ends July 31. Federal subsistence fishing permits are available at Petersburg’s local Forest Service office at 123 Scow Bay Loop Road.
