5 AAC 74.044 - Minto Flats Northern Pike Management Plan

(a) Northern pike stocks in the lakes and flowing waters of the Minto Flats support both subsistence and sport fisheries. The purpose of this management plan is to provide the department with guidance to achieve the goals of managing these stocks consistent with sustained yield principles, providing a reasonable opportunity for the priority subsistence fishery, and providing a sport fishing opportunity. The Minto Flats northern pike management plan for the subsistence fishery is set out in 5 AAC 01.244.

(b) The department shall manage the Minto Flats northern pike sport fishery as follows:

(1) the maximum exploitation rate of northern pike in the lakes and flowing waters of the Minto Flats by all users may not exceed 20 percent annually;

(2) the following provisions apply to the harvest of northern pike in the Minto Flats area sport fishery:

(A) the open fishing season is from June 1 through October 14;

(B) the daily bag and possession limit is five fish per day, only one of which may be 30 inches or more in length;

(C) if the subsistence harvest reports indicate that 750 or more northern pike have been harvested from the Chatanika River drainage upstream of the confluence of the Chatanika River and Goldstream Creek during the period from January 1 until these waters are free of ice, the commissioner shall reduce, by emergency order, the daily bag and possession limit to two fish per day, only one of which may be 30 inches or more in length, in the lakes and all flowing waters of the Minto Flats area for the remainder of the calendar year; and

(D) in the Chatanika River drainage upstream from the confluence of the Chatanika River and Goldstream Creek to an ADF&G regulatory marker located at the boundary of the Fairbanks non-subsistence area (approximately one mile downstream from the Murphy Dome Road), only single hooks may be used.

Notes

5 AAC 74.044

Eff. 3/14/2009, Register 189; am 5/19/2010, Register 194

Authority:AS 16.05.060

AS 16.05.251