Kenai, Kasilof Rivers King Fishing Catch-and-Release Only

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

(Soldotna) – To protect returning king salmon and increase fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is restricting the king salmon fishery on the Kenai River drainage to catch-and-release only effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 14 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021. Only one unbaited, single-hook may be used, and retention of king salmon is prohibited while sport fishing on the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake. King salmon of any size may not be retained or possessed, may not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately.

King salmon passage into the Kenai River is proceeding at a rate less than what is needed to achieve the escapement goal. In-season projections estimate the end of escapement with mean run timing to be 10,778 large fish under current regulations, which is well below the escapement goal. The mean quarter point of the run is on July 17 and the midpoint is on July 27. ADF&G monitors and assesses the run daily in order to achieve the escapement goal of 15,000 – 30,000 large king salmon.

“The 2021 king salmon late-run to the Kenai River is significantly underperforming preseason expectations. It is still early in the run, but indicators so far are predicting a weak return similar to 2019 and 2020. Without further restrictions to harvest, the goal for Kenai River late-run king salmon is not expected to be achieved,” stated Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka.

ADF&G staff will be closely monitoring this fishery as the season progresses and additional actions may be taken if necessary based on in-season information.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka at (907) 262-9368 or Cook Inlet Management Coordinator Matt Miller at (907) 262-9368.

Kasilof River King Salmon Limited to Catch-and-Release 

(Soldotna) – To ensure healthy returns of king salmon to Alaska’s rivers, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation restriction on the Kasilof River effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 14 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021. The retention of king salmon is prohibited while sport fishing on the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used when fishing for king salmon in these waters. King salmon may not be retained or possessed, may not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately.

“King salmon runs across the Kenai Peninsula have underperformed preseason expectations,” stated Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka. “Regulation restrictions have been issued for the Kenai River king salmon sport fishery during July. These restrictions will likely result in an increase in the sport fishing effort and catch of king salmon in the Kasilof River. Therefore, to minimize the effects of conservation actions for the Kenai River, it is warranted to prohibit retention of king salmon on the Kasilof River to ensure adequate escapement of Kasilof River late-run king salmon.

In conjunction with this restriction, a sport fishing regulation restriction was issued prohibiting the retention of king salmon while sport fishing on the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used when sport fishing in these waters.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka at (907) 262-9368.