State Closing Kenai River Early- And Late-Run King Salmon Fishing

The following press releases are courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Kenai River Early-Run King Salmon Sport Fishery is Closed

(Soldotna) – 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 the early-run king salmon sport fishery in the Kenai River drainage downstream of the outlet of Skilak Lake effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 1, 2023. From May 1 through June 30, fishing for king salmon of any size, including catch-and-release, is closed in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake. King salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. In addition, on March 2, 2023, the Division of Sport Fish issued Emergency Order 2-KS-1-11-23 closing the Kenai River to Fishing for king salmon, and prohibiting the use of bait and multiple hooks from its mouth upstream to the ADF&G markers located at the outlet of Skilak Lake from July 1 through July 31, 2023.

The 2023 preseason forecast for Kenai River early-run king salmon is 2,914 large fish (fish greater than 34 inches in length). The total run forecast is less than the optimum escapement goal range of 3,900-6,600 fish. If realized, the 2023 run would rank as the 5th lowest run in 38 years.

“In an effort to protect Kenai River early-run king salmon and in compliance with the regulatory management plan, the early-run king salmon fishery is closed to sport fishing in an effort to meet the early-run escapement goal,” stated Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates.

For additional information, please contact Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates at (907) 262-9368, or Matt Miller (907) 267-2415.

Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Sport Fishery Closed

(Soldotna) – In order to conserve returning king salmon and increase fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is closing the king salmon fishery throughout the Kenai River drainage and prohibiting the use of bait and multiple hooks in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to ADF&G markers located at the outlet of Skilak Lake. These regulatory changes are effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023. Additionally, released on March 2, 2023 Emergency Order 2-KS-1-10-23 closes sport fishing for king salmon of all sizes in the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake from May 1 through June 30, 2023.

Anglers are advised this closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Anglers are also reminded that bait/scent and multiple hooks are prohibited on the entire Kenai River.

ADF&G manages Kenai River late-run king salmon under guidelines provided in the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan to achieve adequate escapement of late-run king salmon into the Kenai River system. The optimal escapement goal (OEG) for late-run king salmon is 15,000 to 30,000 king salmon 75 cm mid eye to tail fork and longer.

The 2023 forecast for the stock of large (> 75 cm mideye-to-tail-fork-length [METF] or approximately > 34 inches in total length) late-run king salmon in the Kenai River is 13,630 fish. This total run forecast is below the optimum escapement goal range of 15,000 to 30,000 fish.

Therefore, consistent with the management plan, it is warranted to close sport fishing for late-run king salmon in the Kenai River to achieve the OEG. ADF&G is also implementing restrictions to saltwater sport fisheries for king salmon in Cook Inlet waters north of Bluff Point (Emergency Order 2-KS-15-23), prohibiting retention of king salmon in the personal use dipnet fishery, and restricting the commercial Eastside Setnet fishery, and drift gillnet fishery.

“The 2023 forecast for Kenai River late-run of king salmon is significantly less than the lower end of the OEG. Without conservative measures, the goal may not to be achieved,” stated Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates.

For additional information, please contact Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates at (907) 262-9368 or Cook Inlet Management Coordinator Matt Miller at (907) 267-2415.