Title 5 . Fish and Game

Chapter 70 . Personal Use Fishery

Section 13. Seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and methods and means in the Yukon River Management Area

5 AAC 70.013. Seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and methods and means in the Yukon River Management Area

(a) Except as otherwise specified in this section or through an emergency order issued under AS 16.05.060 , sport fishing is permitted year round in the waters of the Yukon River Management Area.

(b) Except as otherwise specified in (c) of this section, the following are the general bag, possession, and size limits for finfish in the waters of the Yukon River Management Area:

(1) king salmon 20 inches or greater in length: the bag and possession limit is three fish, of which only two fish may be 28 inches or greater in length;

(2) salmon, other than king salmon: the bag and possession limit is 10 fish, with no size limit;

(3) Arctic char/Dolly Varden and lake trout:

(A) in all lakes: the bag and possession limit is two fish of all species combined, with no size limit;

(B) in all flowing waters: the bag and possession limit is 10 fish of all species combined, of which only two fish may be 20 inches or greater in length, and of which only two fish may be lake trout;

(4) rainbow trout: the bag and possession limit is two fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(5) Arctic grayling: the bag and possession limit is five fish, with no size limit;

(6) sheefish: the bag and possession limit is 10 fish, with no size limit;

(7) northern pike: the bag and possession limit is 10 fish, with no size limit;

(8) burbot: the bag and possession limit is 15 fish, with no size limit;

(9) finfish species that are not specified in this section: there are no bag, possession, or size limits.

(c) The following are the exceptions to the general bag, possession, and size limits, and fishing seasons specified in (a) of this section for the Yukon River Management Area:

(1) in all waters of the Innoko River drainage, including all waters draining into the Yukon River from Holy Cross downstream to and including Paimiut Slough, the bag and possession limit for northern pike is three fish, of which only one fish may be 30 inches or greater in length;

(2) in all waters upstream from the mouth of the Tanana River to and including the Hodzana River, the bag and possession limit for northern pike is five fish, of which only one fish may be 30 inches or greater in length;

(3) in all waters of the Dall River drainage and in all waters of the Little Dall River drainage, northern pike may be taken only from May 20 through September 30, with a bag and possession limit of four fish less than 30 inches in length and only one fish which may be 48 inches or greater in length; all northern pike caught that are at least 30 inches, but less than 48 inches in length, may not be possessed or retained and must be immediately released;

(4) in the Dalton Highway corridor (Trans-Alaska Pipeline corridor) within the Yukon River Management Area, which is described as a corridor five miles wide on each side of the Dalton Highway north of the Yukon River, excluding the Ray River,

(A) sport fishing for salmon is closed;

(B) lake trout: may be taken only by catch-and-release fishing, and may not be possessed or retained; all lake trout caught must be immediately released;

(C) the bag and possession limit for northern pike is five fish, of which only one fish may be 30 inches or greater in length;

(5) in the Nome Creek drainage of the Beaver Creek, Arctic grayling may be taken only by catch-and-release fishing, and may not be possessed or retained; all Arctic grayling caught must be immediately released.

(d) In the Yukon River Management Area, the following special provisions to methods and means apply:

(1) in the Dall River and Little Dall River drainages,

(A) only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures may be used;

(B) the use of set lines is prohibited;

(2) from April 1 through May 31, in the Nome Creek drainage of Beaver Creek, only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures may be used.

History: Eff. 5/19/2004, Register 170

Authority: AS 16.05.251