New rules limit fishing hours on Parks Highway streams

Sport fishers planning to fish for King Salmon in streams that are open to king salmon fishing along the Parks Highway need to be aware of a new regulation this year that prohibits fishing from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and anglers also need to know that Goose Creek is closed completely to taking of king salmon this year.

Talkeetna-based Alaska Wildlife Trooper Dan Valentine said fisheries biologists hope the move will allow sufficient escapement of enough kings that the season, which this week switches to weekends only, won’t have to close early. Other important regulations to keep in mind when fishing for kings are:

• Once a king over 20 inches has been retained, anglers must quit fishing for the day in any waters open to king salmon fishing; and

• That all salmon caught must be recorded on the license (or harvest card for those under 16 or who have a permanent fishing, hunting and trapping license) in ink immediately.

Valentine said one of the most frequent violations he sees is fishers not buying a king salmon stamp.

A 5A low-income license is available, but there are a lot of requirements that must be met to be eligible for it, Valentine said, noting that the fine for falsifying information on a 5A license is $10,000 or a year in jail.

Other new regulations in effect this year, he said, include that northern pike cannot be released back into the water alive; and that if a silver salmon is removed from a river or stream, it counts as part of your bag limit.