South Fork salmon.
Photo © Dick Scully

Frequently Asked Questions about Chinook Salmon

1. In the SF Salmon River and the Salmon River from Short's Creek to Vinegar Creek the daily bag limit is six Chinook of which no more than two may be longer than 24 inches total length. When do I have to stop fishing for the day?
   A person must cease fishing, including catch-and-release once one of the following conditions is met:
   1. The current local time is not within the legal fishing hours.
   2. You have kept two Chinook salmon longer than 24 inches.
   3. You have kept one Chinook salmon longer than 24 inches and five Chinook salmon less than 24 inches.
   4. You have kept six Chinook salmon less than 24 inches long.
   5. You have attained your possession or season limit of salmon.
2. Why can't I keep Chinook salmon less than 24" total length in the Salmon River upstream of the City of Salmon?
   • This rule was put in effect in the upper Salmon River to prevent the incidental harvest of ESA listed endangered adult sockeye salmon that are returning to Redfish Lake. Most sockeye salmon are less than 24" total length.
3. To what does the possession limit apply, and when do I need to stop fishing?
   1. The possession limit applies to all salmon that are kept by an angler in the field or being transported to the final place of consumption or storage. It does not apply to fish consumed or processed and stored at home.
   2. Anglers must cease fishing, including catch-and-release, once they attain the possession limit.
4. Do I need to record salmon I keep that are less than 24 inches on my permit?
   • NO. Anglers need to record only salmon longer than 24 inches on their permit. But anglers cannot retain salmon less than 24 inches in length in the Salmon River upstream of the city of Salmon. This restriction in the upper Salmon River is to protect endangered sockeye salmon from incidental harvest.
5. Do salmon less than 24 inches count against my season limit?
   • NO. Only salmon longer than 24 inches are included in the season limit. However, one may not exceed the daily or possession limits that apply to salmon.
6. If I catch my season limit can I fish for Chinook salmon if I release all salmon I catch?
   • NO. Once you have harvested the season limit you may not fish for Chinook salmon.
7. If I catch my season limit can I fish for Chinook and keep those I catch that are less than 24 inches?
   • NO. Once you have harvested the season limit you may not fish for Chinook salmon.
8. Can I use two poles to fish for salmon?
   • YES. A person may fish with two poles for salmon if they buy a two-pole permit.
9. Where is the adipose fin on a fish?
   
   
   • The adipose fin is located on the fish's back just behind the dorsal fin. This fin is removed from hatchery fish prior to their release.
10. If I catch and land a salmon with an unclipped adipose fin what should I do?
    • Salmon with an unclipped adipose fin may not be kept. If you land a salmon with an adipose fin, you should quickly remove the hook and immediately release the fish back into the stream. It's best not to remove the fish from the water.
11. What is a jack salmon?
    • A jack salmon is a male salmon that has spent 1 year in the ocean before returning to freshwater. They are typically less than 24" total length.
12. When will the season for Chinook salmon close?
    The length of the salmon season in each river is dependent upon:
    1. The number of hatchery origin salmon that return
    2. The number of hatchery fish needed for broodstock at each hatchery
    3. The incidental mortality of wild salmon caused by hooking, catching, and releasing these fish in areas open to salmon fishing.

    IDFG's first priority is to insure that enough salmon return to each hatchery for spawning. If there are more hatchery fish than needed for broodstock they are allocated into equal tribal and non-tribal harvest shares. The number of fish available for harvest is based on pre-season predictions that are updated as the season progresses. IDFG and the Tribe's monitor and estimate their harvest. Once sport harvest reaches the non-tribal share in a river, IDFG will close recreational sport fishing. Closures may apply to entire river or be restricted to certain rivers sections. IDFG will also close a fishery prior to reaching the non-tribal harvest share if impacts to natural fish exceed allowable limits that are set under the NOAA Permits issued to IDFG to conduct a sport fishery.

13. If IDFG closes sport fishing for Chinook salmon can tribal anglers still fish?
    • Yes, if the tribal fisheries have not caught their harvest share and the incidental mortality of wild fish in tribal fisheries is within the allowable limits.