Copper River salmon fishermen landed 1,900 Chinook and 36,000 sockeye salmon in the first 12- hour fishing period last week. In comparison, the anticipated harvest was 37,200 sockeye salmon, according to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G).
The 2017 Copper River king salmon season forecast of 29,000 fish is the smallest since 1985 and continues a recent pattern of weak returns.
"The department will implement additional commercial salmon fishery restrictions this season to reduce commercial king salmon harvest."
The Copper River District will open Monday morning for its second 12-hour commercial fishing period.
