Area Management Report for the Recreational Fisheries of the Southwest Alaska Sport Fish ...

217 Pages·2000·1.3 MB·English

Fishery Management Report No. 00-3
Area Management Report for the Recreational
Fisheries of the Southwest Alaska Sport Fish
Management Area, 1998
by
Dan O. Dunaway
and
Mike J. Jaenicke
May 2000
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish
Symbols and Abbreviations
The following symbols and abbreviations, and others approved for the Système International d'Unités (SI), are used
in Division of Sport Fish Fishery Manuscripts, Fishery Data Series Reports, Fishery Management Reports, and
Special Publications without definition. All others must be defined in the text at first mention, as well as in the titles
or footnotes of tables and in figures or figure captions.
Weights and measures (metric) General Mathematics, statistics, fisheries
centimeter cm All commonly accepted e.g., Mr., Mrs., alternate hypothesis HA
deciliter dL abbreviations. a.m., p.m., etc. base of natural e
gram g All commonly accepted e.g., Dr., Ph.D., logarithm
hectare ha professional titles. R.N., etc. catch per unit effort CPUE
kilogram kg And & coefficient of variation CV
kilometer km At @ common test statistics F, t, χ2, etc.
liter L Compass directions: confidence interval C.I.
meter m east E correlation coefficient R (multiple)
metric ton mt north N correlation coefficient r (simple)
milliliter ml south S covariance cov
millimeter mm west W degree (angular or °
Copyright  temperature)
Weights and measures (English) Corporate suffixes: degrees of freedom df
cubic feet per second ft3/s Company Co. divided by ÷ or / (in
foot ft Corporation Corp. equations)
gallon gal Incorporated Inc. equals =
inch in Limited Ltd. expected value E
mile mi et alii (and other et al. fork length FL
people) greater than >
ounce oz
et cetera (and so forth) etc. greater than or equal to ≥
pound lb
Exempli gratia (for e.g., harvest per unit effort HPUE
quart qt
example) less than <
yard yd
id est (that is) i.e., less than or equal to ≤
Spell out acre and ton.
Latitude or longitude lat. or long. logarithm (natural) ln
Time and temperature Monetary symbols $, ¢ logarithm (base 10) log
(U.S.)
day d logarithm (specify base) log2, etc.
Months (tables and Jan,...,Dec
degrees Celsius °C figures): first three mideye-to-fork MEF
degrees Fahrenheit °F letters minute (angular) '
hour (spell out for 24-hour clock) h Number (before a # (e.g., #10) multiplied by x
minute min number) not significant NS
second s Pounds (after a number) # (e.g., 10#) null hypothesis HO
Spell out year, month, and week. Registered trademark  percent %
Trademark  probability P
Physics and chemistry United States U.S. probability of a type I α
all atomic symbols (adjective) error (rejection of the
alternating current AC United States of USA null hypothesis when
America (noun) true)
ampere A U.S. state and District use two-letter probability of a type II β
calorie cal of Columbia abbreviations error (acceptance of
direct current DC abbreviations (e.g., AK, DC) the null hypothesis
hertz Hz when false)
horsepower hp second (angular) "
hydrogen ion activity pH standard deviation SD
parts per million ppm standard error SE
parts per thousand ppt, ‰ standard length SL
volts V total length TL
watts W variance Var
FISHERY MANAGEMENT REPORT NO. 00-3
AREA MANAGEMENT REPORT FOR THE RECREATIONAL
FISHERIES OF THE SOUTHWEST ALASKA SPORT FISH
MANAGEMENT AREA, 1998
by
Dan O. Dunaway
and
Mike J. Jaenicke
Division of Sport Fish, Dillingham
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Division of Sport Fish, Policy and Technical Services
333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska, 99518-1599
May 2000
Development of this manuscript was partially financed by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish
Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777-777K) under Project F-10-14, Job No. R-2-1.
The Fishery Management Reports series was established in 1989 for the publication of an overview of Division of Sport
Fish management activities and goals in a specific geographic area. Fishery Management Reports are intended for fishery
and other technical professionals, as well as lay persons. Fishery Management Reports are available through the Alaska
State Library and on the Internet: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/divreports/html/intersearch.cfm This publication
has undergone regional peer review.
Dan O. Dunaway and Mike J. Jaenicke
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish,
P.O. Box 230, Dillingham AK 99576-0230
This document should be cited as:
Dunaway, Dan O. and Mike J. Jaenicke. 2000. Area management report for the recreational fisheries of the
Southwest Alaska Sport Fish Management Area, 1998. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management
Report No. 00-3, Anchorage.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game administers all programs and activities free from discrimination on the
basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The
department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age
Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further
information please write to ADF&G, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
4040 N. Fairfield Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203 or O.E.O., U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington
DC 20240.
For information on alternative formats for this and other department publications, please contact the department
ADA Coordinator at (voice) 907-465-4120, (TDD) 907-465-3646, or (FAX) 907-465-2440.
PREFACE
Data contained in this report represent the Division's most recent efforts to upgrade and update
fishery statistics useful in describing Southwestern Alaska's sport fisheries. Data contained in
this document were extracted from Statewide Harvest Summaries, Survey and Inventory Reports,
and the Fishery Data and Manuscript Series. We consider this report to be the most
comprehensive information source concerning effort and harvest statistics for the major
Southwestern Alaska sport fisheries.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................................................................vii
LIST OF FIGURES...................................................................................................................................................viii
LIST OF APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................................ix
SECTION I: MANAGEMENT AREA OVERVIEW...................................................................................................1
Management Area Description......................................................................................................................................1
Regulatory Process........................................................................................................................................................3
Recreational Angler Effort.............................................................................................................................................3
Sport Harvest.................................................................................................................................................................6
Economic Value of the Sport Fishery............................................................................................................................6
Management Plans Affecting Fisheries..........................................................................................................................6
Nushagak Chinook Salmon Management Plan.........................................................................................................6
Southwest Alaska Rainbow Trout Management Plan.............................................................................................10
Nushagak River Coho Salmon Management Plan...................................................................................................11
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Management Plans.................................................................................11
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Public Use Management Plans..............................................................................12
National Park Service, Alagnak Wild River Plan....................................................................................................12
Nushagak & Mulchatna Rivers Recreation Management Plan................................................................................13
Wood-Tikchik State Park Management Plan..........................................................................................................13
Nushagak Mulchatna Watershed Council...............................................................................................................14
Major Issues.................................................................................................................................................................14
Alagnak River Rainbow Trout................................................................................................................................14
Naknek River Rainbow Trout.................................................................................................................................18
Nushagak Coho Salmon..........................................................................................................................................18
Iliamna River Dolly Varden....................................................................................................................................19
Nushagak Chinook Salmon.....................................................................................................................................19
Other Issues.................................................................................................................................................................22
Ongoing Research and Management Activities...........................................................................................................23
Access Program...........................................................................................................................................................24
Aleknagik Lake.......................................................................................................................................................25
Lake Camp..............................................................................................................................................................25
Newhalen River.......................................................................................................................................................26
Kvichak River at Igiugig.........................................................................................................................................26
Agulukpak River Camp Sites..................................................................................................................................26
Outreach Program........................................................................................................................................................26
Presentations...........................................................................................................................................................26
Publications.............................................................................................................................................................27
Other Information Outlets.......................................................................................................................................28
Local Hire and Workforce Development................................................................................................................28
Area Staff.....................................................................................................................................................................29
SECTION II: SPORT FISHING EFFORT.................................................................................................................31
Alagnak River..............................................................................................................................................................31
Brooks River................................................................................................................................................................37
Kvichak River..............................................................................................................................................................37
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
Lake Clark...................................................................................................................................................................38
Copper River................................................................................................................................................................38
Naknek River...............................................................................................................................................................38
Newhalen River...........................................................................................................................................................39
Nushagak and Mulchatna Rivers..................................................................................................................................39
Wood River Lakes, Agulowak and Agulukpak Rivers................................................................................................40
Tikchik Lakes/Nuyakuk River System.........................................................................................................................40
Goodnews River..........................................................................................................................................................41
Kanektok River............................................................................................................................................................42
Togiak River................................................................................................................................................................42
Northwestern Fisheries................................................................................................................................................42
SECTION III: CHINOOK SALMON FISHERIES....................................................................................................43
Alagnak River..............................................................................................................................................................49
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................49
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................50
Management............................................................................................................................................................51
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................51
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................52
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................52
Naknek River...............................................................................................................................................................52
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................52
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................52
Management............................................................................................................................................................54
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................56
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................56
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................56
Nushagak and Mulchatna Rivers..................................................................................................................................56
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................56
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................56
Management............................................................................................................................................................58
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................60
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................60
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................61
Kanektok River............................................................................................................................................................61
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................61
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................63
Management............................................................................................................................................................63
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................63
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................65
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................65
Togiak River................................................................................................................................................................65
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................65
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................65
Management............................................................................................................................................................67
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................67
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................67
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................68
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
Northwestern Chinook Salmon Fisheries.....................................................................................................................68
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................69
SECTION IV: COHO SALMON FISHERIES...........................................................................................................70
Naknek River...............................................................................................................................................................71
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................71
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................71
Management............................................................................................................................................................78
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................78
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................78
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................78
Nushagak and Mulchatna Rivers..................................................................................................................................79
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................79
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................79
Management............................................................................................................................................................79
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................81
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................81
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................81
Wood River Lakes.......................................................................................................................................................82
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................82
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................82
Management............................................................................................................................................................82
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................82
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................83
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................83
Kanektok River............................................................................................................................................................83
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................83
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................83
Management............................................................................................................................................................83
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................85
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................85
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................85
Togiak River................................................................................................................................................................86
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................86
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................86
Management............................................................................................................................................................86
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................88
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................88
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................88
Northwestern Coho Salmon Fisheries..........................................................................................................................89
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................89
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................89
SECTION V: SOCKEYE SALMON FISHERIES.....................................................................................................90
Brooks River................................................................................................................................................................91
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................91
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................97
Management............................................................................................................................................................97
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
Management Objectives..........................................................................................................................................98
1998 Season............................................................................................................................................................98
1999 Outlook..........................................................................................................................................................98
Kvichak River..............................................................................................................................................................98
Fishery Description.................................................................................................................................................98
Historical Performance............................................................................................................................................99
Management..........................................................................................................................................................101
Management Objectives........................................................................................................................................102
1998 Season..........................................................................................................................................................102
1999 Outlook........................................................................................................................................................102
Newhalen River.........................................................................................................................................................103
Fishery Description...............................................................................................................................................103
Historical Performance..........................................................................................................................................103
Management..........................................................................................................................................................103
Management Objectives........................................................................................................................................104
1998 Season..........................................................................................................................................................104
1999 Outlook........................................................................................................................................................104
Central Section Sockeye Salmon Fisheries................................................................................................................104
1999 Outlook........................................................................................................................................................104
SECTION VI: RAINBOW TROUT FISHERIES....................................................................................................105
Southwest Alaska Rainbow Trout Management Plan................................................................................................106
Philosophy of the Plan..........................................................................................................................................106
Plan Implementation.............................................................................................................................................114
Lower Talarik Creek..................................................................................................................................................115
Fishery Description...............................................................................................................................................115
Historical Performance..........................................................................................................................................115
Management..........................................................................................................................................................115
Management Objectives........................................................................................................................................121
1998 Season..........................................................................................................................................................121
1999 Outlook........................................................................................................................................................121
Naknek River.............................................................................................................................................................121
Fishery Description...............................................................................................................................................121
Historical Performance..........................................................................................................................................121
Management..........................................................................................................................................................122
Management Objectives........................................................................................................................................123
1998 Season..........................................................................................................................................................123
1999 Outlook........................................................................................................................................................124
Alagnak (Branch) River.............................................................................................................................................124
Fishery Description...............................................................................................................................................124
Historical Performance..........................................................................................................................................124
Management..........................................................................................................................................................125
Management Objectives........................................................................................................................................126
1998 Season..........................................................................................................................................................126
1999 Outlook........................................................................................................................................................127
Agulowak River.........................................................................................................................................................127
Fishery Description...............................................................................................................................................127
Historical Performance..........................................................................................................................................127
Management..........................................................................................................................................................127
iv