Southeast Alaska Chum at 8.7 Million, Week's Biggest Mover

Statewide harvest stands at 87.6 million fish, 73 percent of ADF&G's 119.9 million fish commercial-comparable forecast per the Blue Sheet. Statewide sockeye (reds) sit at 37.7 million fish, 85 percent of the 44.1 million fish forecast, with most red fisheries past their seasonal peaks. Southeast Alaska chum (dogs) posted the week's largest harvest gain, up 4.7 percent week over week from 8.33 million fish to 8.73 million fish.

• Southeast Alaska chum (dogs): 8.73 million fish, up 4.7 percent week over week from 8.33 million fish a week ago, the largest single-area move on the Blue Sheet this week.
• Bristol Bay sockeye: 30.0 million fish, 92 percent of the 32.9 million fish forecast, the furthest along of the major sockeye districts.
• Cook Inlet: 1.17 million fish, 111 percent of the 1.06 million fish forecast, the only major district above its full-season projection.
• Kodiak: 14.8 million fish, 98 percent of the 15.0 million fish forecast.
• Prince William Sound at 22 percent of forecast: Pink (humpies) at 3.64 million fish, down 4.4 percent week over week from 3.81 million fish, the furthest-behind major district on the Blue Sheet.
• Coho (silvers): Southeast Alaska at 746K fish, up 2.6 percent week over week from 727K fish. Prince William Sound at 382K fish, up 2.7 percent week over week from 372K fish.

Per ADF&G's September 18 inseason summary, Yakutat-area coho returns are trending average to above average, though commercial catch rates weakened as the season progressed and the department managed the fishery conservatively. The same summary reported that the full 33,000-fish Chinook (kings) allocation for the second opening was reached, with 325 permits participating.

The Blue Sheet is preliminary and subject to revision.