Fishing Report: ‘wefishak’ offers family and trophy fish challenges

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Sometimes, when we finally hook on and reel in, we can’t help but take a fish frame.

And after that fish is released back into the river or put in the freezer, those photos can be turned in and recognized by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s ‘wefishak’ challenges.

“[The challenges] are really in effect to celebrate angler accomplishments,” Ryan Ragan, ADF&G Communications Coordinator for Sport Fishing said.

Five Salmon Family Challenge

Fishing is more fun with others, and the Five Salmon Family Challenge promotes family or group participation, proper salmon identification and ethical angling practices. The goal is to reel in the five species of Pacific Salmon found in Alaska waters – Chinook, Chum, Coho, Pink and Sockeye – with members of a family, family groups, or any other group of angling partners.

Fish must be legally caught within Alaskan waters that are open to the public and in compliance with current Alaska Fish and Game regulations.

When you haul in a salmon, simply take a photo displaying it so the species can be easily be identified, then submit it by email to ryan.ragan@alaska.gov. Those who complete the challenge will receive a certificate from ADF&G and an 11×7 poster by Alaskan artist Shelly Marshall of the five salmon species.

Trophy Fish Program

The Trophy Fish Program is the longest-running challenge offered by ADF&G, with data documenting recordholders over decades. There are more than a dozen species to showcase, giving special recognition to anglers that meet minimum weight for trophy certificates and length standards for catch-and-release, also offering a youth division.

Stocked Waters Challenge

There are three challenges within the Stocked Waters Challenge. “Five from Five” challenges anglers to catch five different species (Chinook, Coho, Rainbow trout, Arctic char and Arctic grayling’ from five different stocked waters; one type of species per body of water. To accomplish the “10 Lakes Challenge,” anglers must fish at any 10 stocked lakes within Alaska. However, catching a fish however is not required. This challenge is more about exploring fishing opportunities that you may not have previously experienced. For the “Two Over 20″ challenge, anglers aim to catch two fish of any species, over 20 inches in length.

Details regarding ‘wefishak’ and each challenge can be found here.

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