Cross Channel Distribution of Upriver Migrating Chum, Sockeye and Chinook Salmon in a Large Alaskan River as Estimated with Hydroacoustics and Test Fishing

A combination of hydroacoustics and test fish methods were used on the Nushagak River in Alaska to estimate the daily passage rates of migrating salmon. We used distribution information obtained from this project to examine the migrating preferences of three species of salmon. Counts of salmon obtained using side-looking sonar systems were divided into nearshore (<10m) and offshore (>10m) strata and assigned a species based on catch information from the test fishing program.  Bank preference as well as inshore or offshore preference was determined for each species. Variability in these patterns across and within years is discussed.