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Dillingham's reduced subsistence fishing schedule starts Thursday

Theresa Williams

Fishing on Dillingham beaches goes down to three days a week until July 17, ahead of what is usually the peak of the sockeye run.

KDLG:  Beginning Thursday, subsistence fishing around the Dillingham area will go to its annual restricted schedule.

"For Dillingham Beaches, and that's basically all the local beaches, including across Wood River, from Red Bluff down river, from Lewis Point down river, subsistence fishing is only open three days a week," said Nushagak district area management biologist Tim Sands.

The schedule is: 9:00 a.m. Monday to 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. Wednesday to 9:00 a.m. Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. Saturday to 9:00 a.m. Sunday.

The idea behind the restrictions on subsistence fishing is to prevent people’s nets getting unexpectedly plugged up around the peak of the sockeye run.

"If the millions of fish that are going to show up show up in the next couple weeks, you could unknowingly leave your net out there and basically sink it and lose it inside of 15 minutes. We want people to be aware of that, and not leave nets out for an extended period of time. You've got to manage your net and prevent waste."

The reduced schedule is written in area regulations, which are based on local input and adopted by the Board of Fish.