The Fish Creek Personal Use Dip Net Fishery will open at 6 a.m., tomorrow, July 29. It will close at 11 p.m., Sunday, July 31.

Dipnetting for salmon will be allowed only between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day. All salmon species, except king salmon, may be retained. Any king salmon caught must be released immediately.

The area open to dipnetting is from ADF&G regulatory markers on both sides of the mouth of Fish Creek to the markers about a quarter-mile upstream of Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Dipnetting is allowed from a boat or from shore.

The escapement goal for Fish Creek sockeyes is 20,000 to 70,00, counted at a weir upstream of the fishery. As of July 26, more than 32,500 sockeyes had passed through the Fish Creek weir. Based on these weir counts, the department is projecting a total escapement of more than 50,000 sockeyes.

A 2011 Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit is required to dipnet salmon at Fish Creek. Only Alaska residents holding valid sport fishing licenses, ADF&G Permanent Identification Cards (senior license) or ADF&G Disabled Veteran's licenses may participate in this fishery. The Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit is the same permit used in the Kenai and Kasilof dipnet fisheries.

Participants are allowed to harvest up to 25 salmon per head of household with 10 additional fish for each household member. Only one Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit is allowed per household. Permits will not be reissued for a household that has already returned its permit to Fish and Game. Participants must carry their permits while dipnetting, clip off both tips of the tail fin of every fish harvested, and record their harvest on their dipnet permit before concealing the salmon from view or taking the salmon from the fishing site.

The department reminds dipnetters to please stay off private property. The majority of property adjacent to Fish Creek downstream of the Knik-Goose Bay Road bridge is privately owned. Dipnetters trespassing across private property may be subject to a fine. Respect
“no trespassing” signs. Permission to use private uplands for any reason must be obtained from
the land owner.

When accessing the mouth of Fish Creek, access is only legal below the mean high tide line. Remember, all-terrain vehicles (four-wheelers) are not allowed in creeks or adjacent creekside property without a permit.

For more information, contact the Palmer Area Office at (907) 746-6300.