Cook Inlet Salt Waters To Have King Salmon Regulations Restrictions

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

King Salmon Restrictions in Cook Inlet Salt Waters

(Homer) – In order to reduce harvest of Cook Inlet king salmon stocks that are experiencing a period of low productivity and provide a more comprehensive and precautionary approach to king salmon sport fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is restricting king salmon sport fishing regulations in the Cook Inlet saltwater summer and winter fisheries.

• Upper Cook Inlet salt waters north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00′ N. lat.), king salmon fishing, including catch-and-release, will be closed from May 1 through August 15, 2026. King salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other fish species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. From April 1 through April 30 and August 16 through September 15 the bag and possession limit will be one king salmon, any size.
• Lower Cook Inlet salt waters (south of Bluff Point to the latitude of Cape Douglas and west of Gore Point), including Kachemak Bay, the daily bag and possession limits will be one king salmon any size from April 1 through September 15. 
  • The Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon on the Homer Spit and the Seldovia slough and lagoon, the bag and possession limit will continue to be two king salmon any size. For a description of the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and the Seldovia slough and lagoon waters, please see the Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet.
• Winter fishery: In all salt waters of Cook Inlet, beginning September 16 through March 31, the bag and possession limit will be two king salmon, any size. Additional action later in the season may be required to keep the sport fishery within the guideline harvest level.

All other king salmon sport fishing regulations for Cook Inlet salt waters will remain in effect. Please review the Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for those regulations.

Based on the recent early-run king salmon escapement monitoring in the Kenai, Anchor, and Deshka Rivers, this year’s king salmon runs are forecasted to be below the lower end of their escapement goals, which has triggered preseason closures for the inriver sport fisheries in these streams and also triggers the closure of Upper Cook Inlet salt waters north of the latitude of Bluff Point from May 1 to July 15 as outlined in the Upper Cook Inlet Summer Salt Water King Salmon Management Plan. The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted a recovery plan (Kenai River late-run king salmon stock of concern management plan) to rebuild Kenai River late-run king salmon, which includes a closure to sport fishing for king salmon north of Bluff Point from June 20 to August 15. This restriction will be in place annually until the Kenai River late-run king salmon meets the criteria to be removed from stock of concern status outlined in the management plan.

This emergency order action in Cook Inlet salt waters is in combination with freshwater sport fishery restrictions throughout Cook Inlet. These changes do not affect fishing for other species, including halibut.

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

Upper Cook Inlet (North of Bluff Point): closed to sport fishing for king salmon May 1-August 15, bag and possession limit of one king salmon April 1-30 and August 16-September 15.

Lower Cook Inlet(South of Bluff Point): bag and possession limit of one king salmon April 1 – September 15.

Conservation zones: closed to all sport fishing from a boat between April 1 through July 15.

West Cook Inlet Fresh Waters Closed to King Salmon Fishing

(Palmer) – To protect returning king salmon and ensure sport fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is closing all drainages in the West Cook Inlet Area to sport fishing for king salmon for the duration of the king salmon season (May 1 – June 30). Anglers may not target king salmon (including catch and release) at anytime during 2026. Any king salmon caught must be released immediately, a person may not remove a king salmon from the water before releasing the fish.

“King salmon runs in Cook Inlet are anticipated to be poor in 2026,” stated Area Management Biologist Samantha Oslund. “Several king salmon fisheries in this area of Cook Inlet have been closed in regulation since 2011. Conservative actions continue to be necessary to protect the small king salmon stocks of West Cook Inlet.”

King salmon are experiencing a period of poor productivity and many escapement goals are not expected to be achieved within Cook Inlet during 2026. The Department is taking conservative actions in sport fisheries throughout the region, please see separate advisory announcements for king salmon regulations for the Northern Cook Inlet freshwaters, Cook Inlet salt waters, Kenai River, Anchor River and Deep Creek, Ninilchik and Kasilof Rivers.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologists Samantha Oslund in Palmer at (907) 746-6300 and Area Manager Mike Booz in Homer at (907) 235-8191.