Kasilof River Closed For Kings Until July 15; Catch-And-Release Only Thereafter

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

Kasilof River Sport Fishing for King Salmon is Closed Through July 15 and is Restricted to Catch-and-Release Beginning July 16

(Soldotna) – In order to conserve Kasilof River king salmon, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing closure for early-run king salmon in the Kasilof River from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Tustumena Lake effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2022. Fishing for king salmon of any size, including hatchery-origin fish is prohibited. Any king salmon that are caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used while fishing for other species.

The Kasilof River late-run king salmon fishery will be open to catch-and-release fishing only, from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 16 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022, from its mouth upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Any king salmon that are caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used. The waters from the Sterling Highway Bridge upstream to the outlet of Tustumena Lake, 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 16 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022, will remain closed to king salmon fishing and anglers are limited to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure while fishing for other species

ADF&G manages the Kasilof River early-run king salmon sport fishery to achieve a sustainable escapement goal of 700 – 1,400 naturally-produced king salmon as monitored through an ADF&G weir located on Crooked Creek. Crooked Creek king salmon also are used to supplement king salmon stocking programs across Southcentral Alaska. Indicators of king salmon runs across Cook Inlet are not showing signs of improvement and conservative measures are necessary to ensure future king salmon fishing opportunities.

“Early king salmon runs across the Kenai Peninsula are near or at record low levels, it has been deemed necessary at this point to close the fishery to all king fishing to protect naturally-produced fish migrating to Crooked Creek. Restrictions and closures have been implemented on most Cook Inlet king salmon stocks in response to the weak returns this year,” stated Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka.

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

Kasilof River Personal Use Gillnet Fishery Daily Fishing Hours Further Reduced to Conserve King Salmon

(Soldotna) – To protect king salmon bound for the Kasilof River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following personal use fishing regulation restrictions for the Kasilof River set gillnet fishery effective 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 15 through 11:00 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2022. The daily fishing hours in the personal use set gillnet fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River will be reduced by an additional six hours per day and the fishery will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily from Wednesday, June 15 through Friday, June 24, 2022. This restriction in hours supersedes Emergency Order 2-KS-1-26-22 issued on June 8, 2022, which reduced daily fishing hours from 17-hours to 12-hours per a day.

ADF&G manages Kasilof River early-run king salmon to achieve a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 700-1,400 naturally-produced king salmon, measured at the Crooked Creek weir. King salmon runs across Cook Inlet are at record low levels and are not showing signs of improvement. Without further reductions in potential harvest, it is likely the escapement goal will not be achieved. To conserve king salmon inriver, ADF&G has also closed the Kasilof River king salmon sport fishery by emergency order.

This gillnet fishery is in conjunction with the Upper Cook Inlet personal use fisheries on the Kenai, Kasilof, and Susitna rivers, and Fish Creek and the total salmon household limit applies to a combination from all four fisheries. A 2022 Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit and a resident sport fishing license are required and must be in your possession while participating in the fishery. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery.

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