Bristol Bay’s 2026 Sockeye Run Nears 29 Million

Bristol Bay’s sockeye run is closing in on 29 million fish, and the fleet is moving toward the Naknek-Kvichak District for the next part of the season.

According to a Bristol Bay fisheries report, the bay-wide run is sitting at 28.78 million sockeye through July 7th, 2026. Fishermen caught 1.15 million fish on Monday alone, bringing the cumulative catch to 17.95 million sockeye.

Here are the numbers by district:

Egegik: 492,817 caught Monday, 5.94 million for the season. Total run: 7.5 million, closing in on its 8.9 million forecast.
Nushagak: 271,431 caught Monday, 6.62 million for the season. Total run: nearly 12 million. The Wood, Nushagak, and Igushik river systems have all met or exceeded their escapement goals, good news for the fish returning home.
Ugashik: 240,264 caught Monday, 3.48 million for the season. Total run: just over 4.1 million.
Naknek-Kvichak: 138,251 caught Monday, 1.88 million for the season. Still catching up to the other districts, but that’s about to change fast, permits here are jumping from 338 to 482 by Thursday as boats reposition.

Bay-wide, 1,475 permits are currently active on 1,048 boats.

Against a preseason forecast of 32.26 million sockeye, the fishery has already reached about 89% of projected harvest and 69% of projected total run, it is proving to be a strong season.

The surge of vessels moving into Naknek-Kvichak is worth watching. With nearly 150 permits in just a few days, more boats and gear will be packed into a smaller area of water. More vessels, more fatigue, and less room for error on deck. Please stay safe out there.

If you or someone you love is injured while fishing in Bristol Bay, or anywhere in Alaska’s commercial fleet, you may have a claim under the Jones Act or general maritime law. Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC represents maritime workers throughout Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California, with offices in Seattle and Anchorage. Give us a call at 1-877-DECKLAW for a free, confidential consultation.