Bristol Bay Fisheries Report
Fridays 6pm and Re-Airs at 10pm, AM 670 (Seasonal)
The Bristol Bay Fisheries Report, produced by the KDLG news crew, is dedicated to the one-of-a-kind commercial fishery in Bristol Bay. The show airs Friday nights at 6 p.m., with replays at 10 p.m. Join us for the latest news, numbers and information from the fishery, plus nightly analysis, stories and conversations.
Do you have news tips or ideas, or would you like to share your comments with the show? Reach the KDLG news department at news@kdlg.org, fish@kdlg.org or 907-842-2200.
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It’s our final show of the season. The total run for the season so far has surpassed 50 million salmon. KDLG’s Ryan Berkoski shares surprises from this summer's numbers. Climate specialist Rick Thoman reflects on this week’s heat. Justin Taufaso talks about his first summer working for a processor. Bristol Bay fishers share what they have learned about fishing from their families. -
Monday’s baywide catch was just around 380,000 fish total, continuing to pull the majority of that number from the Naknek/Kvichak and drawing in the rest from the remaining districts. Both the Wood River and Naknek tower crews are packing things up for the season, as we get their final escapement counts for the year. -
Catch and escapement numbers continue to fall bay-wide, with a total catch of under 400,000 on Sunday. Peter Pan owner Rodger May is trying to get some of the company’s assets back. The Department of Fish And Game says that so far, this year’s Bristol Bay sockeye are the smallest they’ve ever seen. This spring, Dillingham resident Lancee Whetman published a book of poetry. -
Counts are down today compared to yesterday throughout districts, with the Naknek/Kvichak continuing to bring in the majority of the daily harvest. A recent Supreme Court decision could have important implications for fisheries in Bristol Bay. As the season winds down, many fishing crews are hauling boats in. For Alaska residents: if you want to vote in the state primary, the deadline to register to vote is this Sunday, July 21. -
Across districts, fleets caught over a million fish on Wednesday, with half of that coming from the Naknek/Kvichak. As the season continues to wind down and numbers lessen, it's becoming more clear which rivers met or surpassed pre-season expectations. -
The baywide catch on Tuesday was 1.2 million. After a fire on the Hannah, Northline has finally completed repairs and is back up to full capacity. A new mapping app is helping fishermen steer clear hazards. Plus, fish season means bear season, and climate specialist Rick Thoman says to expect good weather ahead. -
Districts continue to bring in plenty of fish this week, with yesterday’s catch numbers higher than Sunday’s. The Nushagak hauls in most of the catch, and Ugashik/Egegik districts catch substantially more than they did on Sunday. With some districts passing preseason expectations–and others not quite reaching them–it’s fascinating to see how this season is shaping up to conclude. -
Sunday’s baywide catch dropped under a million for the first time in almost a week. Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle pays his first visit to Wood Tikchik State Park, Biologist Travis Elison discusses the Naknek/Kvichak closure, and a Naknek resident uses that closure to launch a business. -
The baywide catch on Thursday was less than half of Wednesday’s, signifying that we may be reaching the tail of the season. Set Netters are having trouble keeping their gear from drift boats. One Bristol Bay fisherman wants to be sure fishing boats are given funding as America's economy seeks to move towards renewable energy. -
Numbers are starting to peak again as fishermen meet another big push across all districts. Crews in the Naknek/Kvichak reported well over 1 million fish being caught, and the Nushagak brought in over 800,000. The Kvichak River also takes the largest cumulative escapement yet this season, passing the Wood River at 4 million. Port Moller numbers are dropping, and they are determining whether they will produce any more stock compositions.
