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The bay-wide catch nearly doubled on Thursday, with daily catch numbers picking up across the board. The decision on whether to list Gulf of Alaska king salmon as an endangered species has been extended. We hear from a returning processor worker here in Bristol Bay. Plus, Cordova's fishing season opens.

The bay-wide catch is just under 300,000 fish so far this season, with Egegik fleets bringing in 98% of yesterday’s catch. The most recent Port Moller stock composition estimates show 28% of the fish sampled are on their way to Egegik, with Kvichak fish coming in a close second. Registered permits in the Nushagak will increase to 412 in the next two days, as anticipation for the first opener builds.

Catches around the bay remain slow, but escapement numbers picked up yesterday in the Nushagak and Wood Rivers. Catches in the outer stations at Port Moller are ramping up too, which test fishery crews say is a good sign. We also have the first stock composition estimates of the season, with lots of fish heading to the Wood and Kvichak Rivers.

Egegik and Ugashik crews started bringing in some sockeye catches yesterday, and across the bay, escapement counts are starting to come in as tower crews get set up.