Latest Copper River sockeye count: 1,971 on Jul 28, 2026 (ADF&G, preliminary). 2026 season count: 564,558 fish (May 18 – Jul 28).
- Latest daily count
- 1,971
- Jul 28, 2026
up 960 vs Jul 27 - 2026 season total
- 564,558
- May 18 – Jul 28
2025 to the same date: 895,308 - vs 3-year average
- 60%
- of the 2023–2025 average to Jul 28 (945,010)
- Peak day
- 22,011
- Jun 6, 2026
- 7-day total
- 11,351
- Jul 22 – Jul 28
down 20% vs the 7 days before
Within the goal range
ADF&G SEG goal: 360,000–750,000
2026 passage: 564,558 fish counted through Jul 28. Passage is the fish counted at the site (preliminary), not final escapement.
- 2026
- 2023–2025 average
- SEG goal
- Daily count
Chart data (weekly running totals)
| Date | 2026 running total | 2023–2025 average running total |
|---|---|---|
| May 13 | 0 | 12 |
| May 20 | 168 | 837 |
| May 27 | 15,204 | 26,622 |
| Jun 3 | 55,634 | 91,066 |
| Jun 10 | 158,421 | 243,235 |
| Jun 17 | 214,643 | 369,741 |
| Jun 24 | 274,654 | 462,527 |
| Jul 1 | 356,079 | 563,243 |
| Jul 8 | 474,211 | 704,271 |
| Jul 15 | 541,153 | 826,955 |
| Jul 22 | 556,586 | 913,213 |
| Jul 28 | 564,558 | 945,010 |
| Date | Fish counted | Change vs prior count | Season total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19 | 2,797 | +608 | 550,534 |
| Jul 20 | 2,210 | −587 | 552,744 |
| Jul 21 | 463 | −1,747 | 553,207 |
| Jul 22 | 3,379 | +2,916 | 556,586 |
| Jul 23 | 1,728 | −1,651 | 558,314 |
| Jul 24 | 1,402 | −326 | 559,716 |
| Jul 25 | 698 | −704 | 560,414 |
| Jul 26 | 1,162 | +464 | 561,576 |
| Jul 27 | 1,011 | −151 | 562,587 |
| Jul 28 | 1,971 | +960 | 564,558 |
| 2026 season total | 564,558 | ||
| 2023–2025 average to the same date | 945,010 | ||
Source: ADF&G daily fish counts, preliminary; ADF&G can revise them. Days with no count above zero are skipped.
Copper River Sockeye Salmon Fish Counts
Real-time and historical sonar fish counts tracking Alaska's legendary Copper River Sockeye run—world-famous for the finest wild salmon and massive commercial harvests.
Understanding Copper River Sockeye Runs
The Copper River hosts one of Alaska's largest and most valuable Sockeye salmon runs, monitored by the ADF&G sonar at the outlet of Miles Lake, which ADF&G's Division of Commercial Fisheries uses to manage the Copper River commercial fishery. The sonar counts all salmon passing the site, including king salmon, but most of each day's count is sockeye, so ADF&G treats it as a measure of sockeye abundance. "Copper River Reds" are prized worldwide for their rich flavor.
🐟 Sockeye Run (Mid-May – Late July)
Sockeye make up most of the salmon counted at the Miles Lake sonar, with passage usually peaking in June. Counting typically runs from mid-May through late July.
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About Copper River Sockeye Salmon Fishing
The Copper River, flowing through the heart of Southcentral Alaska, is celebrated for its vigorous and bountiful runs of Sockeye salmon, drawing anglers from around the world. This river is especially famous for "Copper River Reds"—a local term for Sockeye salmon—which are highly sought after for their deep, rich flavor and are considered a culinary delicacy worldwide.
Fish are counted by sonar at the outlet of Miles Lake, about 35 miles upstream from the commercial fishery's closest boundary and about 70 miles downstream from the Chitina dipnet fishery. The sonar operates from mid-May through late July, providing daily counts that help managers balance commercial harvest with escapement goals.
World-Famous Commercial Fishery
The Copper River commercial salmon fishery is one of Alaska's most esteemed and valuable, commanding widespread attention both domestically and internationally. The season typically opens in mid-May, marking the beginning of Alaska's salmon harvest each year. This first harvest is highly anticipated and receives significant media coverage, creating a buzz that elevates the fish's status and desirability. The arrival of the first Copper River Sockeye to markets and restaurants is celebrated with events and promotions.
Why Copper River Salmon Taste Better
Copper River Sockeye salmon are prized for their rich, oily flesh. The unique geographical and environmental conditions of the Copper River contribute to this distinctive taste and texture. A common explanation is that the long, cold, fast-flowing glacial river means the salmon must carry larger stores of fat to fuel their migration. This produces the rich, buttery flavor and exceptional nutritional value that has made Copper River salmon a culinary icon.
Run Timing & Peak Periods
The Copper River Sockeye run typically builds from mid-May, with peak migration occurring in mid-June. The run tapers through late June and early July, with the sonar usually ceasing operations by late July when the bulk of the run has passed.
Sport Fishing Opportunities
While the Copper River is primarily known for its commercial fishery, sport fishing opportunities exist, particularly in tributary rivers like the Gulkana River and Klutina River. Anglers often focus their efforts near the river's delta and its many tributaries, where salmon congregate in large numbers—making these spots ideal for both novice and experienced fishermen.
Sport Fishing Regulations
Sport fishing in the Copper River area is meticulously regulated to ensure the sustainability of Sockeye salmon populations. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) sets limits on the number of fish that can be caught and retained by recreational anglers. These regulations are informed by ongoing research and fish counts, which assess the strength and timing of the salmon runs. In addition to bag limits, ADF&G employs specific fishing seasons aligned with expected run timing to minimize impact during critical spawning periods. Certain areas of the Copper River may also be temporarily closed to protect vulnerable salmon stocks or reduce competition with commercial fishing operations.
Subsistence Fishery
The Copper River supports important subsistence fisheries for Alaska Native communities and local residents. The subsistence fishery operates under separate regulations from the commercial and sport fisheries, with specific areas and gear types designated for subsistence harvest. These traditional fisheries have sustained local communities for thousands of years.
Understanding Escapement & Sustainability
The Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) for upper Copper River wild Sockeye is 360,000 to 750,000 fish. This is the range of fish ADF&G aims to have escape the fisheries and reach the spawning grounds to maintain healthy future runs. The fishery's reputation for sustainability and careful management has enhanced its appeal—stringent regulations and monitoring practices mean consumers can trust the source of their seafood. This commitment to conservation aligns with growing demand for ethically sourced and environmentally friendly products. Sonar passage has been large in recent seasons: about 992,000 salmon in 2023, 948,000 in 2024 and 895,000 in 2025, with 2026 lower at about 565,000 (preliminary). Not every fish counted at the sonar spawns, because upriver fisheries harvest some of them, so ADF&G also sets an inriver goal for passage at Miles Lake (632,700 salmon in 2026).
Tracking Copper River Sockeye fish counts is essential for understanding the health of this iconic fishery. From 2022 to 2026 the busiest single day at the sonar fell between early June and early July, and season passage ranged from about 565,000 to 992,000 salmon.
Copper River sockeye count: common questions
Plain answers on how the Miles Lake sonar works, what past seasons looked like and how the numbers tie to the commercial and Chitina fisheries. This season's numbers are in the season recap and live chart above. The figures below come from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and were checked on October 21, 2026.
What is the Copper River fish count?
It is ADF&G's daily sonar count of salmon swimming up the Copper River past the outlet of Miles Lake. Most of the fish are sockeye, also called red salmon. Each day's count is added to a running total for the season, which ADF&G compares with its goals for the run.
What is the Miles Lake sonar?
It is the ADF&G sonar station on the Copper River at the outlet of Miles Lake. ADF&G's Division of Commercial Fisheries in Cordova uses its passage counts to manage the Copper River District commercial salmon fishery.
Where is the Miles Lake sonar on the Copper River?
At the outlet of Miles Lake. ADF&G says the site is about 35 miles upstream from the commercial fishery's closest boundary and about 70 miles downstream from the Chitina dipnet fishery.
Does the Copper River sonar count only sockeye?
No. ADF&G says the counts include all salmon passing the sonar, king salmon and other species included. Most of each day's count is sockeye, so ADF&G treats the count as a measure of sockeye abundance. Since 2018, an ARIS apportionment lens at the site lets ADF&G pick out large king salmon, those over 30.4 inches.
When are new Copper River counts posted?
The next day. ADF&G says sockeye counts are available the following day, so the number you see in the morning is usually yesterday's passage. Large king salmon counts take longer, typically about three days, and ADF&G updates them as data become available, usually on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
How do I check the Copper River fish count today?
Look at the season recap and chart at the top of this page. They show the latest daily count ADF&G has posted and the season total so far, with 3-year and 5-year averages and the goal range. The goal range on the chart is the 360,000 to 750,000 spawning goal. The sonar count also includes fish caught later upriver, so the inriver goal below is the closer comparison. Counts for the current year are preliminary and can be revised. On ADF&G's own table, days with no count show as a dash.
When does the count start, and when does the run peak?
Counting starts in mid-May and ends in late July. From 2022 to 2026 the first count came between May 12 and May 22, and the last count came on July 28 in every season from 2017 to 2026. Passage usually peaks in June. The biggest single day in each of the last five seasons was:
- 2022: June 4
- 2023: July 7
- 2024: June 9
- 2025: June 13
- 2026: June 6
How many salmon passed the Miles Lake sonar in 2026?
ADF&G's preliminary 2026 count was 564,558 salmon, from May 18 to July 28. That is the lowest season total since 2020 and below ADF&G's 2026 inriver goal of 632,700 salmon. The biggest day was June 6, at 22,011 fish, the only 2026 day above 20,000.
What is the record Copper River sonar count?
The highest season total in ADF&G's online Miles Lake data, which goes back to 1978, is 1,341,545 salmon in 2015. The biggest single day in that data is 113,977 fish on June 11, 2013. Season totals have topped 1 million six times: 1997, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019.
What were the Copper River sonar counts in past years?
Season totals at the Miles Lake sonar, from ADF&G's online data:
- 2026: 564,558 (preliminary)
- 2025: 895,308
- 2024: 947,983
- 2023: 991,740
- 2022: 785,509
- 2021: 751,262
- 2020: 530,313
- 2019: 1,039,354
- 2018: 701,577
- 2017: 723,426
Over the five seasons from 2022 to 2026 the count averaged about 837,000 salmon a year. These are counts of all salmon passing the sonar, not spawning escapement.
How many fish pass the sonar in a day?
It varies a lot. In 2026 the daily count ranged from 0 on May 20 to 22,011 on June 6. The biggest day of each season from 2017 to 2025 ranged from 15,696 (2020) to 61,473 (2024). Because single days swing so much, the running total is a better guide than any one day.
What is the escapement goal for Copper River sockeye?
360,000 to 750,000 wild sockeye for the upper Copper River, a sustainable escapement goal. Escapement is the number of fish that get past the fisheries to spawn. ADF&G also lists a separate sustainable escapement goal of 55,000 to 130,000 sockeye for the Copper River delta.
What is the inriver goal at Miles Lake?
It is the number of salmon ADF&G wants past the sonar so that there are enough fish for spawning and for the fisheries upstream. For 2026 ADF&G set it at 632,700 salmon:
- 360,000 sockeye for spawning escapement
- 150,000 for personal use harvest
- 70,200 for subsistence
- 20,000 sockeye for Gulkana Hatchery broodstock
- 17,500 other salmon
- 15,000 for the sport fishery
That is why the sonar count runs higher than the spawning escapement: some of the fish counted at Miles Lake are later caught upriver.
How long does it take salmon to reach Chitina from Miles Lake?
About two weeks, according to ADF&G, but it varies a lot with water levels. So a strong count at Miles Lake points to more fish at Chitina later, not on the same day. ADF&G also says the water levels on its count page show general trends in Copper River flow and may not reflect conditions upstream at Chitina.
How does the Miles Lake count affect the commercial fishery?
ADF&G uses passage at the sonar, along with harvest and escapement trends, to decide how much commercial fishing time to allow. In 2026 the Copper River District drift gillnet fishery was scheduled to open on May 22, and in June ADF&G told permit holders that extra fishing time based on Miles Lake sonar passage could be announced at any time in season. ADF&G forecast a 2026 commercial sockeye harvest of 728,000 fish, on par with the 10-year average of 733,000.
Are Copper River king salmon counted at Miles Lake?
Large ones are estimated. ADF&G's large-fish apportionment at the sonar is its main in-season tool for tracking Copper River king salmon, which have a separate sustainable escapement goal of 21,000 to 31,000 fish. ADF&G's 2026 forecast for the Copper River king run was 33,000 fish, 27% below the 10-year average of 45,000.
Where does the data come from?
The counts in the chart and the past-season totals above come from ADF&G's public Copper River (Miles Lake) sockeye count. We republish them with averages so the trend is easier to read. The goals, the inriver goal and the commercial fishery details come from ADF&G Division of Commercial Fisheries announcements from Cordova.
How do I get alerts when new counts post?
In the Alaska FishTopia app, favorite the Copper River count and you'll get a push alert when a new count posts. The alert gives the day's count and the season total so far, and says whether the run is ahead of, on or behind the typical pace for the date, based on the 3-year average. The app also covers the Coghill River and other Alaska counts, plus tides, marine weather, sport fishing regulations and AI fish ID. It comes with a 3-day free trial, then $9.99 a year. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.