Alaska Cuts Susitna River Coho Limit and Bans Bait Through September

Alaska is tightening the rules on Susitna River coho, and this is the kind of change anglers need to know before they hit the water.

ADF&G is reducing the coho salmon bag limit from two fish to one and prohibiting bait in the Susitna River drainage. The emergency provisions run from 12:01 a.m. Thursday, August 6, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Across the drainage, the combined daily bag for chum, sockeye, and coho salmon is three fish, but no more than one may be coho. Coho 16 inches or longer that are removed from the water must be retained, and anglers may not remove a coho from the water before releasing it. Only unbaited artificial lures are allowed.

The reason is simple: conservation. The Deshka River coho escapement goal is 10,200 to 24,100 fish, and the weir was damaged by flooding on July 15. ADF&G also pointed to poor coho escapement in recent years. If the run improves, restrictions could be relaxed. If it does not, more restrictions are possible.

Nobody likes losing opportunity, but pretending weak returns are not weak returns does not put more salmon in the river. Legal harvest depends on enough fish making it back.