Section 5.52.065. Upper Copper River and Upper Susitna River Area Stocked Waters Management Plan.

	(a)  The department shall manage stocked waters in the Upper Copper River and Upper Susitna River Area in order to meet public demand for diverse fishing opportunities. The department may manage fisheries to provide or maintain qualities that are desired by sport anglers. The department shall manage the stocked waters according to one of three management approaches. The management approaches are the  
		(1) regional management approach;  
		(2) conservative management approach; and  
		(3) special management approach.  
	(b)  The board's regulations that govern stocked waters in the Upper Copper River and Upper Susitna River Area shall be consistent with the applicable management approach specified in (a) of this section.  
	(c)  When a water body in the Upper Copper River and Upper Susitna River Area is first stocked, it shall be placed under the regional management approach category. After receiving a proposal from the public, the department, or from the board to reclassify a water body, and when the proposal meets the criteria for a different classification, the board may reclassify the water body. The board may act on a proposal to reclassify a water body or to designate a water body for special management only if the proposal has been submitted according to the procedures set out in 5 AAC 96.610 and is consistent with the board's regular meeting cycle schedule.  
	(d)  Regional management approach. Under the regional management approach, stocked waters will be managed so that there will be a reasonable expectation of high catch rates and harvesting a daily bag limit. The bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of all stocked species, and only one of those fish may be 18 inches or greater in length. The fishing season is open year round and bait may be used.  
	(e)  Conservative management approach. Under the conservative management approach, stocked waters will be managed so that there will be a reasonable expectation to catch a daily bag limit with a reasonable chance of catching fish 18 inches or greater in length. The bag and possession limit is five fish in combination of all stocked species, and only one of those fish may be 18 inches or greater in length. The fishing season is open year round and bait may be used.  
	(f)  Special management approach. Under the special management approach, stocked waters will be managed so that there will be a high probability of an angler catching more than one fish a day that is 18 inches or greater in length. When considering a proposal regarding this management approach, the board should consider taking the following actions:  
		(1) limit fishing to  
			(A) catch-and-release fishing;  
			(B) fly fishing;  
			(C) trophy fishing, which means that a fish retained must be 18 inches or greater in length;  
		(2) establish seasonal periods when fishing is closed or is restricted to catch-and-release fishing; or  
		(3) establish a bag limit of one fish, 18 inches or greater in length, or another appropriate bag and size limit.   
	(g)  During times of low hatchery output, the commissioner may, by emergency order, modify methods and means, reduce bag limits, or institute a catch-and-release only fishery.  

Authorities

16.05.251

Notes

Authority

AS 16.05.251 ________________________

History

Eff. 5/19/2004, Register 170; am 9/12/2008, Register 187