Salmon are here – ensure you’re legal

  • Published
  • By JBER Public Affairs
  • Staff Report
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The temperature is on the rise, the land of the midnight sun is sticking to its name, and all across the state, anglers are rushing to the water to participate in one of Alaska's biggest benefits; the summer salmon harvest.

Service members and their families can enjoy fishing almost as easily as Alaska residents, but there are a few important rules to keep in mind.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it, said James Wendland, Conservation Law Enforcement.

The regulation states, "Anglers sport fishing for king salmon, except stocked king salmon in landlocked lakes, must purchase a current year's king salmon stamp."
The difference in price for a king stamp will only cost non-resident military license holders $10 more than resident license holders, but the fine for an improperly-purchased license can be more than $300.

Active-duty service members and their families, who do not qualify as residents and who are permanently stationed in Alaska, may obtain a special military fishing license at the resident rate.

This special resident rate only applies to permanently stationed military with permanent change of station papers showing effective date of transfer.

Active-duty nonresident military personnel and their families that receive this non-resident military license are still required to purchase king salmon stamps to fish for king salmon.

People should check the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website frequently for rule updates.

Emergency orders are the method the state uses to open and close fisheries, change fish limits and tackle restrictions.

In many cases, EOs are required because there are either more or fewer fish than expected, and there is a biological conservation concern, the ADF&G website says.
EOs are announced in newspapers, by radio, recorded ADF&G hotlines, on the ADF&G website, and at kiosks and ADF&G offices.

The safe bet, when it comes to EOs, is to check the ADF&G website for new changes before leaving on a fishing venture.

The regulation for residency is probably one of the more commonly misunderstood policies, Wendland said.

"It's easy to get mixed up and purchase a license with the incorrect information on it and the next thing you know, you're getting fined for something you thought you were doing right," he said.

"It's highly recommended for anyone who desires to do any hunting or fishing while in Alaska to ask for assistance and read the regulation," Wendland said.

An 'Alaska resident' as pertaining to military members, is a service member who has been stationed in Alaska for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application for a license, or a dependent of a resident member of the military service who has lived in Alaska for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application for a license.

In other words, Wendland said, once you apply for a resident license, a year after that application is processed, you will gain resident status.

The first task is determining which license you need to purchase. Resident, non-resident, or non-resident-military, as defined by the 2013 Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website, an Alaska sport fishing license is required for all non-residents 16 and older, and most residents from 16 to 59, to fish in all Alaska fresh and salt waters.

Anyone under the age of 16 is not required to have a license.

While sport fishing, personal-use fishing, or clam digging patrons must have their fishing license must be in their possession.

A sport fishing license is valid for a calendar year.

Those with a non-resident military license cannot participate in personal-use fishing, commonly referred to as dip netting.

For information about fishing or hunting on base, call 552-2282.

To check the regulations, visit the Department of Fish and Game website at www.adfg.alaska.gov or call 267-2257.

If service members have any questions they can always contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation at 267-2257, or the Alaska State Troopers.

More phone numbers are located on page two of the 2013 Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary. Summary booklets can be picked up free of charge at most sporting-goods stores, grocery stores, and other places that sell bait and tackle.