Strong Catches Continue at the Port Moller Test Fishery

The Port Moller Test Fishery continues to record relatively strong catches indicating that there are likely still millions of sockeye headed to the Bristol Bay region. Monday’s fishing effort as part of the Port Moller Test Fishery produced a catch of 211 sockeye. Just 8 sockeye were taken at station 2 but the catch increased up to 53 fish at station 4. The catch at station 6 was 48 and the catch at station 8 was 52 sockeye. The catch at station 10 was 50 sockeye. Monday’s fishing effort produced a daily replacement index number of 42, which increased the cumulative index number up to 532. Monday’s daily traditional index number was 64, which pushes the cumulative traditional index number up to 1,158. That’s well shy of the average cumulative index number of 1,599. Only 3 times in the last 24-years has the cumulative index number been lower through June 30th than this year’s 1,158. That includes 2012, 2007, and 1998. In the interpretation released Monday night fisheries scientist Scott Raborn confirmed that the forecast model continues to show that the sockeye run to Bristol Bay will be larger than 30-million. The ongoing Port Moller Test Fishery is schedule to run through July 10th.