Commercial salmon trollers in Southeast Alaska are already done with their first king salmon opening of the summer season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Monday the first king salmon opening would end just before midnight on Tuesday, July 4th. The fleet was expected to catch a target of 64,000 Chinook salmon by then. The catch is managed under a treaty agreement between the U.S. and Canada. Fishing opened on July 1st.
After off-loading their catch, trollers can go back out for other salmon, like coho and chum. They’re also expecting to have a second king opening later this summer. Starting July 5th, trollers also can keep hatchery kings until further notice.
