Title 5 . Fish and Game

Chapter 70 . Personal Use Fishery

Section 17. Seasons, bag, possession, and size limits in the Kuskokwim - Goodnews Management Area

5 AAC 70.017. Seasons, bag, possession, and size limits in the Kuskokwim - Goodnews 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 the Kuskokwim - Goodnews Management Area.

(b) Except as otherwise specified in (c) of this section, the following are the general bag, possession, and size limits for finfish and shellfish in the waters of the the Kuskokwim - Goodnews 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 five 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;

(8) halibut: may be taken only from February 1 through December 31, with a bag and possession limit of four fish and no size limit;

(9) king crab: may be taken in the waters south of 60ΓΈ N. lat. only from June 1 through January 1;

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

(c) The following are the exceptions to the bag, possession, and size limits, and fishing seasons specified in (a) and (b) of this section for the Kuskokwim - Goodnews Management Area:

(1) except as otherwise specified in (2) - (9) of this subsection, in all waters of the Kuskokwim River drainage downstream from a point one-quarter mile upstream from the confluence of the Kuskokwim River with the Holitna River and all other waters draining into Kuskokwim Bay west of Cape Avinof and north of Cape Newenham,

(A) king salmon may be taken only from May 1 through July 25;

(B) the bag and possession limit for Arctic char/Dolly Varden in all flowing waters is five fish, of which only two fish may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(C) the bag and possession limit for sheefish is five fish, with no size limit;

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

(2) in the Holitna River drainage, the bag and possession limit for

(A) Arctic char/Dolly Varden in all flowing waters is three fish, with no size limit;

(B) Arctic grayling is two fish, with no size limit;

(C) sheefish is two fish, with no size limit;

(3) in the Aniak River drainage,

(A) the bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length is two fish, with an annual limit of two fish 20 inches or greater in length; an angler fishing for king salmon must possess and complete a current year's nontransferable harvest record as specified in 5 AAC 70.024(b) ;

(B) the bag and possession limit for pink, sockeye, and coho salmon is three fish, with no size limit; however, the aggregate daily bag and possession limit of all salmon species may not exceed three salmon, of which no more than two fish may be king salmon;

(C) chum salmon may not be possessed or retained; any chum salmon caught must be immediately released;

(D) the bag and possession limit for Arctic char/Dolly Varden is three fish, with no size limit;

(E) rainbow trout may not be possessed or retained; all rainbow trout must released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(F) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is two fish, with no size limit;

(G) the bag and possession limit for sheefish is two fish, with no size limit;

(4) in the Kisaralik River drainage,

(A) upstream from approximately 60ΓΈ 49.50' N. lat., 160ΓΈ 55' W. long. (Akiak Village Lodge site), rainbow trout may be taken only by catch-and-release fishing; any rainbow trout caught must be released immediately;

(B) downstream from approximately 60ΓΈ 49.50' N. lat., 160ΓΈ 55' W. long. (Akiak Village Lodge site), the bag and possession limit for rainbow trout is two fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches or greater in length; annual limit of two fish 20 inches or greater in length; an angler fishing for rainbow trout must possess a current year's nontransferable harvest record as specified in 5 AAC 70.024(c) ;

(5) in the Kwethluk River drainage, the bag and possession limit for rainbow trout is two fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches or greater in length; annual limit of two fish 20 inches or greater in length; an angler fishing for rainbow trout must possess and complete a current year's nontransferable harvest record as specified in 5 AAC 70.024(c) ;

(6) in the Kasigluk River drainage, the bag and possession limit for rainbow trout is two fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches in length or greater; annual limit of two fish 20 inches or greater in length; an angler fishing for rainbow trout must possess and complete a current year's nontransferable harvest record as specified in 5 AAC 70.024(c) ;

(7) in the Kanektok River drainage,

(A) the bag and possession limit for Arctic char/Dolly Varden in all flowing waters is three fish, with no size limit;

(B) rainbow trout may be taken from November 1 through June 7, with a bag and possession limit of two fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(C) rainbow trout may not be retained or possessed from June 8 through October 31; all rainbow trout must be immediately released;

(D) the bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is two fish, with no size limit;

(E) the bag and possession limit for sheefish is two fish, with no size limit;

(8) in the Arolik River drainage, the bag and possession limit for

(A) Arctic char/Dolly Varden in all is three fish, with no size limit;

(B) rainbow trout is two fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches or greater in length; annual limit of two fish 20 inches or greater in length; an angler fishing for rainbow trout must possess and complete a current year's nontransferable harvest record as specified in 5 AAC 70.024(c) ;

(C) Arctic grayling is two fish, with no size limit;

(D) sheefish is two fish, with no size limit;

(9) in the Goodnews River drainage, the bag and possession limit for

(A) Arctic char/Dolly Varden in all flowing waters is three fish, with no size limit;

(B) Arctic grayling is two fish, with no size limit;

(C) sheefish is two fish, with no size limit.

(d) In the Kuskokwim - Goodnews Management Area, the following special provisions to methods and means apply:

(1) only unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures may be used in the

(A) Aniak River drainage upstream of Doestock Creek;

(B) Kisaralik River drainage, upstream of 60ΓΈ 49.50' N. lat., 160ΓΈ 55.0' W. long. (Akiak Village Lodge site);

(C) Kwethluk River drainage, upstream of 60ΓΈ 31.96' N. lat., 161ΓΈ 05.47' W. long. (Pulalmaneq (Pocahontas) Creek);

(D) Kasigluk River drainage;

(E) Kanektok River drainage;

(F) Goodnews River drainage;

(2) in the Kanektok and Goodnews River drainages, downstream of the Togiak National Wildlife Wilderness Area boundary, a person may not sport fish within 300 feet of a legally operating subsistence set gillnet.

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

Authority: AS 16.05.251