ADFG Announces King Salmon Restrictions In Cook Inlet Saltwaters

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

(Homer) – In favor of protecting returning king salmon and ensuring sport fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is closing sport fishing for king salmon within one mile of shore in the saltwaters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00′ N. lat.). This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 5 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021.

“King salmon counts have been below average this year at most of our monitoring locations throughout Cook Inlet. ADF&G is managing this fishery conservatively to minimize the harvest of local stocks,” stated Area Management Biologist Mike Booz. “Anglers will still be able to fish for other species in these waters and target king salmon in lower Cook Inlet since there are no restrictions to the summer saltwater fishery south of Bluff Point.”

In conjunction with this restriction, emergency order 2-KS-7-16-21 closes the Anchor River and Deep Creek drainages to all sport fishing from June 5 through July 15, 2021. Please review the emergency orders in their entirety.

For more information, please contact Area Management Biologist Mike Booz or Assistant Area Management Biologist Holly Dickson at 907-235-8191.