Age composition and spawning escapement of chinook salmon in the Karluk, Ayakulik and Chignik Rivers, Alaska, 1995 and 1996
Subtitle: by Tim Motis.
Contributors: Alaska. Division of Sport Fish. Statewide Research and Technical Services Unit.
Series: Fishery data series -- no. 97-40.
Publisher: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services Unit
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Anchorage, Alaska
Language: eng
Number of pages: 69
Subjects: Chinook salmon -- Alaska -- Karluk River -- Statistics.; Chinook salmon -- Alaska -- Ayakulik River -- Statistics.; Chinook salmon -- Alaska -- Chignik River -- Statistics.; Fish populations -- Alaska -- Karluk River -- Measurement.; Fish populations -- Alaska -- Ayakulik River -- Measurement.; Fish populations -- Alaska -- Chignik River -- Measurement.
Description: In June 1993, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Sport Fish Division, initiated a project to monitor the status of the chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha stocks of the Karluk, Ayakulik and Chignik rivers, the largest and most utilized stocks in the Kodiak Management Area. This report presents data collected in 1995 and 1996. We censused inriver returns of chinook salmon to the three rivers by counting fish passing weirs on the rivers. Age and sex compositions of the Karluk and Ayakulik inriver returns were estimated by sampling chinook salmon at the weirs. Age and sex composition of the Chignik inriver return was estimated by sampling the commercial harvest in Chignik Lagoon. Sport fishing effort, and catch and harvest of chinook salmon for the Karluk and Ayakulik rivers were estimated through the Statewide Harvest Survey. Sport harvests from the Karluk and Ayakulik rivers were sampled to estimate sex composition of the harvests. Spawning escapements to the Karluk and Ayakulik rivers were estimated by subtracting sport harvest from inriver return because most harvest at these rivers occurs above the weirs. Estimates of sport harvest are not available for the Chignik River because of insufficient returns of questionnaires to the Statewide Harvest Survey. In 1995, the inriver return to the Karluk River was 12,657 chinook salmon. Ages 1.4 and 1.3 comprised 72% of the inriver return; the male/female sex ratio was 1.5:1.0. An estimated 1,284 chinook salmon were harvested (586 males and 698 females) and 2,613 were released in the sport fishery; sport fishing effort for the entire year and all species was an estimated 6,928 angler-days. Spawning escapement was 11,373 chinook salmon. The 1996 inriver return to the Karluk River was 10,051 chinook salmon. Ages 1.4 and 1.3 comprised 64% of the inriver return; the male/female sex ratio was 1.7:1.0. An estimated 769 chinook salmon were harvested out of a total catch of 2,382 chinook salmon. Sport fishing effort was 6,237 angler-days. Spawning escapement was 9,282 chinook salmon. In 1995, the inriver return to the Ayakulik River was 17,701 chinook salmon, mostly age 1.4 (60%). The male/female sex ratio was 1.7:1.0. Sport anglers harvested an estimated 200 chinook salmon (104 males and 96 females), releasing 883, and expending 1,299 angler-days over the entire year and all species. Spawning escapement was 17,501 chinook salmon. The 1996 inriver return to the Ayakulik River was 10,344 chinook salmon, predominantly ages 1.4 (39%), 1.3 (24%), and 1.2 (25%). The male/female sex ratio was 1.7:1.0. Anglers harvested 203 chinook salmon out of a total catch of 794 fish. Sport fishing effort was 2,038 angler-days. Spawning escapement was 10,141 chinook salmon. In 1995, 3,219 chinook salmon were harvested in the commercial purse seine fishery in Chignik Lagoon; 1,579 chinook salmon in 1996. The inriver return to the Chignik River was 4,288 chinook salmon in 1995, and 3,485 chinook salmon in 1996. In 1995, most chinook salmon were ages 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4; in 1996, ages 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5. The male/female sex ratio was 1.0:1.0 in 1995, and 0.7:1.0 in 1996.
Notes: "December 1997"

Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-34).

Also issued online.

Partially financed by the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777-777K) Project F-10-11, Job no. S-2-10a Project F-10-12, Job no. S-2-10.