BRISTOL BAY DATA REPORT NO

Transcription

1 BRSTOL BAY DATA REPORT NO ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FSH AND GAME DVSON OF SPORT FSH BRSTOL BAY MANAGEMENT REPORT to the ALASKA BOARD OF FSHERES Anchorage, Alaska December, 1986 Submitted By: R. Eric Minard Fisheries Biologist E. Richard Logan Director Paul Krasnowski Regional Supervisor.HJ:".ui-:~ ""'' y;;..._, Alaska Resources Libran & nformation Scrvict:~ Jjbrary Build1ng. Suite J Providence Drive A.nchorngc. AK 9950~_ih l J

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3 . NTRODUCTON The southwestern sport fish management area includes all waters and drainages flowing into Bristol Bay north of Cape Menshikof and extending to and including the Kuskokwim River and its tributaries from the Aniak River, downstream to Kuskokwim Bay (Figure 1. Within this 54,700, square mile area lies some of the most productive salmon, rainbow trout, grayling, Arctic char and Dolly Varden waters in the world. : Conservative estimates suggest that during 1985 the management area accounted for 82,560 angler-days or 4.25% of the state's total angling effort. Although comparatively few anglers utilize the area, effort is increasing. Over 100 fishing lodges and professional guiding operators are now offering services within Bristol Bay alone. Anglers come to the area to enjoy the wilderness setting as well as the outstanding fishing. Southwest Alaska offers sport anglers a diversity of angling opportunity ranging from world-class grayling fishing of the Ugashik Lakes, to the lunker rainbow trout of Naknek and liamna, along with outstanding areawide salmon fisheries. This report reviews six major recreational sport fisheries, and provides the Board with current fisheries data and a summary of the 1986 season. J ~ ~ en C\l ~ '(" C'l. ~ 0 L{ L{!' -129-

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6 KANEKTOK RVER SPORT FSHERY by R. Eric Mi~~rd Fisheries Biologist BACKGROUND ''. The Kanektok River, located south of. Bethel within the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR, is a 93-mile clearwater river that has gained popularity with sport fishermen in recent years.., Popular'!-ty of the river is due in part to airport access. near the river at Quinhagak, - "" A r publicity because of its National Wildlife Refuge status and its excellent runs of salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and grayling. n 1984, the TNWR staff imposed a ceiling of 3,183 man-days that twelve co111111ercial guides, permitted to use the Kanektok, may impart on the wilderness portion of the system. Priva'te recreational effort throughout the system, and professional guided effort in the lower 20 miles of the river is not currently limi.ted.. _Fishing effort_ has averaged 4, 340 angler-days or 5% of the management area total since 1983 (Table 1. Sport fishermen in the lower 20 miles of the river target on chinook, chum and coho salmon while the upper 80 miles are primarily rainbow trout, grayling and Dolly Varden fisheries. Bag limits for chinook salmon were liberal (15 per: day, 30 in possession until 1985 when the bag and possession limits were dropped to 5 per day, 5 in possession with no size limit. Chinook salmon currently constitute 30% of the Kanektok sport harvest averaging 1, 035 fish since Co111111ercial harvests have ranged from 30,000 to 40,000 fish in recent years. Subsistence harvests constitute 1; ' -111-

7 an additional 3,000 fish annually, while escapements have ranged from 30,000 to 40,000 in the past 3 years. The sport harvest at pre~ent levels does not constitute a significant removal from the total run.- 0 Concern over rainbow trout on the Kanektok re'sulted in bj!lg limit reductions in 1985 from daily limits of 15 per day with 3 over 20 inches down to 2 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. Harvest since.. l98j demonstrates a declining trend and averages 370 fish per year ~ince~., ' - 'l Decline in harvest is attributed to self-imposed catch.. and release practices demonstrated by most anglers fishing the Kanektbk:_'' '. -. ' -., '...,. ' - \' j. _:- ;.; Ongoing studies by USF&WS and ADF&G staff are not yet concluded, how~ ever, i.t is doubtful that at present harve~t rainbow ~rout resource is bei~g s~:ve~ely over-exploftecl. :~:~h.i lev~ls. the Kanektok Rive~:'" 1986 SEASON n response to public concern over increased angling effort on the:'"... r. Kanektok River, the Department initiated an intensiv_e creel census on the lower 20 miles of the Kanektok' Riye:r in' The'' objective of th ~: study was to assess sport fishery imp~~ts- rainbow trout fisheries in the lower third \f the river. upon the- -chinook, -coli.o,--=::. :.~--"---,-\ ' Department efforts were matched by USF&WS personnel, working on the upper cwo thirds, to provide first-time total coverage of the sport fishery. ' Results of ADF&G studies in '!:he Tower reach 'aie provided iii' Table. 2;. An" -.:'A estimated 1, 600 angler-days were spent by anglers who harvested a total, of 1,032 chinook and 152 coho salmon (Table 2. Rainbow trout harvests in this section of the river proved to be insignificant. Effort estimates are up only slightly for similar periods monitored in '. ( -

8 MANAGEMENT CONCERNS Trespass With the growth and popularity of the Kanektok sport fishery, local native land holders have voiced concern about trespass offenses by ' angleirs seeking access to the fishery. Presently, to camp or fish on any land downstream of the wilderness boundary (lower 20 miles anglers must pay a daily fee of $25. When water levels remain low, numerous gravel bars below mean high water are available and limited trespass occurs. However, when waters rise, anglers are forced to the river banks which are private lands. communication between problem. Frustration proposals to restrict the fishery. Poorly posted boundaries and poor land owners and fishermen contribute to the over the trespass issue has led to regulation EFFORT Angling effort is continuing to climb.along the river as is the number of fish being landed by sport anglers. Although it appears sport harvest of salmon species presently poses no resource concerns, the numbers of rainbow trout being landed and released is climbing annually. n the face of restrictive bag limits for rainbow trout, some professional guides indicate the resource is still declining. What effect hooking mortality is having on the total population is not known. But, studies on other rivers nationwide show variable but generally low hook and release induced mortality. : ~ i il ",.... '!~.' l' '' '1,

9 .-,, Table 1. Harvests of sport fish species from the Kanektok River, 1983 to present. : Days Rainbow Dolly Total Year Fished Chinook Coho Trout Varden Harvest ,517 1, ,406 3, , ' , 116 4,245 : , , ,291 1, NA NA NA Average 4, ,112 2,609 Note: estimates are from statewide harvest surveys estimates are from creel census conducted from June 20 to September 4 " i _-,,-.

10 Table 2. Lower Kanektok River creel census results, Effort Chinook Catch Coho Catch Angler Avg. Angler Number Number % Per Number Number % Dates Hours Angler-Day Days Per hr. Caught Killed Killed Hr. Caught Killed Killed 6/20-7/17 7, ,095 1, /18-9/04 4, Season 6/20-9/04 11, , ,106 1, w "' -':"::.;"

11 NUSHAGAK RVER SPORT FSHERY. By: R. Eric Minard Fisheries Biologist BACKGROUND The Nushagak River drainage sustains runs of five species of Pacific salmon and contributes over half of the chinook, pink and coho salmon production of Bristol Bay. Angling effort concentrates from mid-june thru mid-july primarily in the lower 20 miles of the Nushagak River from Black Point upstream to approximately 1 mile above the village of Portage Creek. The species of primary interest for anglers fishing the lower Nushagak River is chinook salmon. Since 1980 the fishery has grown in popularity. A legal limit is currently 5 salmon of which no more than 2 may be greater than 28 inches. Sport fish harvests since 1979 have averaged approximately 1,500 chinook salmon annually (Table SEASON Fishing conditions were relatively good with low, clear water, however, harvests were down slightly from the annual average of 1, 500. Sport fishermen fished 9,400 angler-hours and caught 2,500 chinook salmon. Of the fish caught, 988 were killed and kept. This represents approximately 1.0% exploitation of the total run imparted by sport anglers (Table 2. Lower than average angler success was attributed to a chinook salmon run that was both late and weak. The total run of 117,800 was 64% below the 183,000 pre-season forecast

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13 ., The escapement of 43,400 was 42% short of the goal of 75,000. Combined commercial, sport and subsistence harvests resulted in a 64% exploitation. Late in the run, when it became apparent that escapement would not be realized, consideration was given to closing the spor't fishery to chinook salmon. Howev'er, the decisions had been made not to restrict the commercial fishery that was by then targeting on the sockeye return, nor the subsistence fishing throughout the river system. The additional exploitation in the remaining days of the chinook sport fishery (substantially less than 1% was judged negligible and allowed to continue.. ~. :,:.,

14 Table 1. Chinook salmon commercial, subsistence and sport catches plus escapement for the Nushagak/Mulchatna River fishery.* Percent Harvest Total Sport Year Commercial Subsistence Sport Escapement Run Catch Average *Estimates are in thousands of fish. Data sources: Statewide harvest surveys Creel census conducted on the lower Nushagak River June 6-June 14 and on the Mulchatna River July 3-September 3. (Data are preliminary l: l ' '::1 l ;!

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16 LOWER TALARK CREEK RANBOW TROUT FSHERY By: R. Eric Minard Fisheries Biologist BACKGROUND Lower Talarik Creek is located at the northwest corner of Lake liamna and is renowned as a high quality rainbow trout sport fishery. n 1968, Lower Talarik Creek was included in the "Bristol Bay Trophy Fish Area" in recognition of its large rainbow trout. Relatively restrictive bag limits of 5 trout, only 1 over 20 inches were instituted in n 1977 the Trophy Fish Area was renamed the Wild Trout ~rea, and in 1984 the Board of Fisheries reduced the summer bag and possession limit to one rainbow trout. Since 1981, only single hook artificial flies have been legal gear for the period June 8 to October 31. Formal creel censuses were conducted during 1971 through 1976, and again in Data from these studies indicate that catch per angler hour has improved since 1975, and that the percentage of the catch retained has clearly dropped (Table 1. Most anglers fishing Lower Talarik Creek are guided, non-residents that voluntarily catch and release trout. Spawning ground surveys conducted since 1971 suggest relatively stable spawning runs from 1971 to 1982 (Table 2. The 1986 spawning population estimate was about one-third the average estimate of previous surveys. Lower than average spawner estimates were attribut.!!d to the late timing of the survey. The 1986 spawning season was accompanied by inordinately warm, low water conditions. which is believed to have stimulated an earlier than average spawning run.. ' r " : >;,i

17 SEASON Angler effort in the week following the June 8 opening was negligible since most large trout had already spawned and migrated back into Lake:.. liamna for the summer.. Angler effort increased around August 15 and remained steady until the end of the census on October 9. An estimated 2,000 angler hours were expended with 2,400 trout caught of which 16 were killed for a retention rate of less than 1% (Table 1. Of the trout killed, only three were over 20 inches in length. Anglers were overwhelmingly guided non-residents who practice self-imposed catch and release on rainbow trout. The seasonal catch rate of 1.16 trout per hour is considered acceptable and indicative of a healthy stock... Potential Management Problems Concern over possible declining trout spawning runs has prompted interest in establishing mandatory catch and release regulations on Lower.. ' - :J Talarik Creek. Analy&is of this proposal should include the following: 1. The 1986 spawning run foot surveys should be considered minimal estimates as the surveys were started late. J The number and percentage of the catch that are killed by sport anglers is extremely low. The voluntary catch and release ethic that is self-imposed by an overwhelming majority of trout anglers precludes the necessity for similar mandatory regulations during the June 8 to October 31 season. During the period from November 1 to April 9 the daily bag and possession limit is 5 trout (only 1 over 20 inches. Fish caught in the fall fishery are killed, and a portion of each year's spawning run is vulnerable to harvest during this period

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19 : Table 2. Estimated number of rainbow trout spawners in Lower Talarik Creek, , based on weir counts ( , foot surveys and aerial surveys. : J :J Year Number of Spawners Estimated time of Peak Spawning May June ,000 May ,200 May ,100 May ,000 Miy May ,150* May ,000* April ,300* May ,250 N/A ,900 N/A April 21.,,." :; :... ;;. ~. ' l ; * Aerial surveys

20 NAKNEK RVER CHNOOK, COHO AND RANBOW TROUT SPORT FSHERES By: R. Eric Minard Fisheries ' Biologist BACKGROUND The Naknek River, located on the east side of Bristol Bay, is the major sport fishery in the area, accounting for 19% of the total angler effort expended in Bristol Bay. Effort has steadily increased in recent years (Table 1 and is expected to f~rthej: in~r~~~~, with develop~;-;;nt of the communities of Naknek and King Salmon. Angling effort is' directed.,. ' primarily toward chinook salmcm, coh~ salmon ~nd rainbow trout. Harvest -~ ~.- of chinook and coho salmon has climbed steadily along with arigl:i.i:t'g effort since 1979.,.. The chinook salmon fishery extends from late May through July peaking in late June to early JulY'. Effort conc~ntrates in a 12-mile stretch of the Naknek River.. adjacenc ta_.the community. of. King. Salmon. This fishery, ', f-. '..., :'_,, -,. is the most cohspmptive chinook sport fishery in Bristol Bay, harvesting an estimated ZO to 25% of' the tot~l. run to the Naknek River. The inability to obtain accurate spawning escapement estimates and to separate prevents fishery. out the Naknek portions of commercial and subsistence catches. '. 1 accurate d~termination of e~ploitation. rate of the sport The coho salmon fishery develops in late July and extends into September, with effort concentrating within the same general area as the chinook fishery. Annual harvest of co~o has generally increased with an average of 1,300 fish taken each year since The Naknek ~ver rainbow trout fishery concentrates in the upper Naknek River and has the highest effort and harvest of any rainbow: system in Bristol Bay. Effort is high in June, drops in July and climbs again in mid-august through mid-october, coinciding with periods of availability -145-

21 of large trout. A small, consumptive winter fishery develops at the head of the river each year. Many of the trout harvested in this fishery are next spring's developing spawners. Creel censuses conducted from mid-august to mid-october in 1981, 1983 and 1984 showed that catch per hour decreased and. that anglers in the fall fishery retain approximately 25% of fish caught (Table 2. Spawning surveys conducted annually between 1982 and 1985 showed a stable minimum estimate of 2,500 spawners each year. ',,., SEASON Approximately 7, 400 angler-days were spent to harvest 7, 300 chinook salmon from the Naknek River in This seaso~ s sport catch is the highest on record and constituted 60% of the overall exploitation (Table 3. Collllllercial and subsistence fishermen took an additional 4,000 and 1,000 chinook, respectively. Minimal escapement estimates of 16,000 appeared to be adequate and were above the average escapement index of 14,000 ( J An in-river commercial salmon fishery was conducted for the first time to harvest surplus Naknek River sockeye. The fishery commenced on July 9 and continued until July 19. A total of 270 chinook salmon were taken incidental to the 1,045,879 sockeye. Analysis of c~inook salmon creel census data suggests the in-river commercial fishery had little effect on angler success. high during the commercial fishery (Table 4. Catch rates (fish caught per hour remained Concern over large numbers of unreported incidental chinook salmon was expressed by some Department staff and area residents. precludes assessment of this removal. Lack of quantitative information Chinook salmon stocks within the Naknek system appear to be in good shape. Having peaked in the early 1980s, the runs are dropping down, as are most chinook runs in western Alaska, to pre-peak levels. Conservative estimates of total run remain above the 17-year averages

22 Table 1. Naknek River silmori; 'coho sport fishi~g effort and harvest for chinook l' ' '' _.- -' ; ' ' -. : salmon. and rainbow trout, 1979:..1986;'..:. ; 0 \ ~- :' ' Effort Year..-_, : Arigler Days ";" '. J , ' , , , , , N/A. :-~ ~ ~. chinook Coho Rainbow Trout ~ ~.- Har:-~~;t,, Harvest a arvest.. '; '!. _.,. -.':'JD.o.".~:>=-~ '" ~- - --~ - - _ , Q 954 c-:_, '.,. j :jtj. 2, 729 8i8 1,705 \.- ; "...,. ; ; 2,581 '1, 156..,-.., 2,138 3,264 1, ,545 1,385 3, 724 4,524 2,332 2,881 5,038 1,231 1,561 7,273 N/A N/A Sources: : Mills, M.J Alaska statewide sport fish harvest studies. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Federal Aid in Fish. Restoration-,- Arinual Report of Progress; ;.. Project F-9-(1378, Vol : Alaska Department of Fish and Game chinook study creel census, in press (data Naknek River 1986 are preliminary. //...-- :i '

23 Table 2. Naknek River rainbow trout effort, catch rate, harves.t rate and retention rate during the fall fishery, 1981, 1983 arid J1:ffort Year. Angler-Hours Catch Catch/Hr. Harvest Proportion.., Retained '' ' ,025 4, ,755 4, , '.. ' ,611 3, '-~ :' ~ ': ' 1 _, --.e... :.;.i...,,_, 0,. 0

24 Table 3. Naknek River chinook salmon creel census results, Effort Avg. Catch Rate Angler Angler-Day Angler Harvest per Dates Hours Hr/Day Days Angler-Hour Total Harvest 5/2816/ /14-6/27 7, , /28-7/13 22, , /14-7/25 6, , ,732 1,536 TOTALS 37, , ,273!

25 Table 4. Chinook salmon commercial, subsistence and sport harvest plus escapement for the Naknek/Kvichak River fishery.* 0 ( J 0 Percent Harvest Escapement Total Spol."t Year Commercial Subsistence Sport ndex Run Harvest ' _;:, 1 J ~ ~ J 1 ' J Year Average Note: 1986 subsistence harvest is preliminary sport harvest is for the Naknek River only. ' * Estimates are in thousands of fish l ~ l

26 AGULOWAK AND AGULUPAK RVER SPORT FSHERES,, --. By: R. Eric Minard Fisheries Bi~logiiit. 3.:. BACKGROUND -'~ r,,.. The Agulowak and Agulupak riv~rs, both ~ithin the' confines of Wood-,. Tikchik State Park, support over 80% of the angling. ef~ort: within: the Wood River s~stem each swmner. Fishermen try theh' l~ck on these waters primarily for Arctic char and rainb'o!.i' 'ttout' botift;of which are found. in. abundance. _, :, ;;, Th~ Agulow~k ~v'et, located some 17 uiif~s from ~he' viilage of Aleknagik, is fished from early J~n~-through August~ Guided'and non-guided' anglers fish thes e. waters in nearly equal proportions. Arctic char, which congregate by the thousands, are. the primary target at the river mouth, while rainbow trout are sought throughout the river. The Agulupak River is- harder to access~ because- of its distance.. from Dillingham and its difficult waters. Consequently, angling effort is. -'i almos,t entirely guided, non-resident fishermen who seek rainbow trout which are found in abundance.. during late summer and fall. Mandatory catch and release fishing in the 'upper mile was imposed by the Board in 1984 in response to public testimony that the river's rainbow trout resources were declining. Both fisheries appear stable at this point. Effort is expected to continue to increase particularly in response to the State Park status the area now enjoys.

27 SEASON ntensive creel census activities were conducted on the Agulowak and. Agulupak Rivers this year. Along with effort and harvest 'data, demo,. graphic information was collected for each of the anglers interviewed:. :.. 0 Results of these studies indicate that some 3, 600 angler-hours were -.,..,,_ spent on the Agulowak while nearly 2, 000 were spent on the Agulupak from'-.. June to August (Table 1. Estimates for the Agulupak are considered low because the creel census was terminated in August prior to the high. usage imparted in September. Total seasonal effort for the Agulupak probably approaches 3,000 angler-hours... ~ ' ' ; 0 Arctic char constituted over 50% of the harvest from the Agulowak, while. rainbow trout were mo_re frequently caught on the Agulupak. Twenty-five percen~ of the fish captured on the Agulowak were retained.. ~

28 \._ Table 1. Creel census results from ~he Agulowak and Agulupak Rivers, :.] Location Survey Effort Dates Ang-Hrs Boat Angler T~~e (~ercent Non- Gear (~ercent Shore Guided Guided Bait Fly Spin Catch (~ercent Char Grayling Rainbow Aguluwok 6/22/86 to 8/23/86 3, Agulupak 7/1/86 to 8/22/86 1, : ; n ~ t: >- Q 1!:: 0 g.~~~ ;: 0'!» (Jq >; :t::l (1 S (1..,_ l>l.-+ "' 0...!» ~ 0 - >; (:: '""' \,/7.J. en ;: r> :><"CJ(l!» (1 "' ~ ~,._.. ~,..,