Age composition and spawning escapement of chinook salmon in the Karluk, Ayakulik and Chignik Rivers, Alaska, 1993 and 1994
Subtitle: by Len Schwarz.
Contributors: Alaska. Division of Sport Fish. Statewide Research and Technical Services Unit.
Series: Fishery data series -- no. 96-6.
Publisher: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services Unit
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Anchorage, Alaska
Language: eng
Number of pages: 88
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: A project was initiated in June 1993 to monitor the status of the chinook salmon stocks of the Karluk, Ayakulik and Chignik rivers. These stocks were selected for study because they are the largest and most heavily utilized stocks in the Kodiak Management Area. This report presents data collected in 1993 and 1994. Weirs are located on all three rivers to monitor inriver returns. Sport harvest and catch on the Karluk and Ayakulik rivers were monitored in 1993 and 1994. Escapements at the weir and sport harvests in the Karluk and Ayakulik rivers were sampled for age, sex and length. In Chignik, chinook salmon harvested in the commercial purse seine fishery in Chignik Lagoon were sampled for age, sex and length. In 1993 the onsite creel survey estimated 569 (SE = 48) chinook salmon harvested and 2,566 (SE = 82) released in the Karluk River sport fishery. Total sport fishing effort was estimated to be 1,572 angler-days. The 1993 estimates do not include anglers who exited at the Portage. The onsite creel census in 1994 counted 896 chinook salmon harvested, with a release of 4,339. Effort in 1994 was 2,359 angler-days in the sport fishery above the weir. Estimates for 1994 included anglers exiting at the Portage, but not those fishing downstream of the weir. In the Karluk River, the spawning escapement (inriver return minus known sport harvest above the weir) was 13,575 chinook salmon in 1993, and 11,153 in 1994. The escapement was predominantly ages 1.4 and 1.3 in both years. The male/female sex ratio was 0.9:1.0 in 1993, and 1.1:1.0 in 1994. The sport fishery on the Ayakulik River was censused in 1993 and 1994 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Harvest in 1993 was 808 chinook salmon with 2,878 released. The 1994 harvest was 739 chinook salmon; 2,733 were released. Total fishing effort was 1,133 angler-days in 1993; 1,533 angler-days in 1994. The spawning escapement to the Ayakulik River was 7,011 chinook salmon in 1993; 8,399 in 1994. In 1993 the spawning escapement was predominantly ages 1.4 and 1.2. In 1994, ages 1.4 and 1.3 were most abundant. The male/female sex ratio was 2.3 in 1993, and 1.6 in 1994. In 1993, 4,938 chinook salmon were harvested in the commercial purse seine fishery in Chignik Lagoon, through July 31. In 1994, the commercial harvest through July 31 was 1,773 chinook salmon. The commercial harvest was dominated by 1.4- and 1.3-age fish in both years. The male/female sex ratio was 0.34 in 1993; 0.96 in 1994.
Notes: "March 1996"

Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-42).

Also issued online.