Wrangell Sentinel -

PETERSBURG (AP) — The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is predicting a return of about 34,000 king salmon to the Stikine River next year in southeast Alaska.

The estimated return is large enough to allow commercial fishing in the area and a catch up of to 1,000 Chinook. Catches of Stikine kings are managed under the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the U.S. and Canada, KFSK-FM reported.

The department's announcement means trollers and gillnetters could have the opportunity to fish for the kings in early May, which would be a first since 2012, although fishing was shut down that year due...