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

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

After that fish is released back or put in the freezer, those photos can turn into prizes by completing 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 state regulations.

When you haul in a salmon, simply take a photo so the species can be easily identified. Those who complete the challenge will receive a certificate from ADF&G and a 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 record holders 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. The youth category applies to anglers 15 years of age or younger.

Stocked Waters Challenge

There are three challenges within the Stocked Waters Challenge:

• “Five from Five” challenges anglers to catch the five different stocked fishes (Chinook, coho, rainbow trout, Arctic char and Arctic grayling) from five different 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. Catching a fish, however, is not required. This challenge is more about exploring new fishing opportunities.
• For the “Two Over 20″ challenge, anglers aim to catch two fish of any species over 20 inches.

Details regarding “wefishak” and each challenge can be found here.

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