The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has placed king salmon restrictions on the Kasilof and Kenai Rivers. The king salmon fishery on the Kenai River and Kasilof River drainage has been restricted to catch-and-release only effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 14th through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31st.
Area Management Biologist, Colton Lipka:
“So our preseason forecast had quotas in a number that was within the optimal escapement goal range of 15 to 30,000. The first week’s passage, because we began passage estimates for the late run on July 1st, so we let that first week come in and based on those numbers we’re now looking at a projection that is below that escapement goal. In order to give us our best opportunity to make that goal, then we needed to restrict the fishery down. What we’re looking at right now is a weak run or a late run. There is still that possibility that these fish could be late and still come in, but being in a more conservative stance, we felt it was most prudent to go ahead and issue the restriction to go to catch-and-release. That gives us some more time to move towards the quarter point of the run, which will be on the 17th, this coming Saturday.”
Lipka said that when the restriction is placed on the Kenai, it’s often placed also on the Kasilof:
“So when we take restrictions on the Kenai such as catch-and-release, we will also pair up with Kasilof to catch-and-release as well because that is an unmonitored run without an escapement goal, but what we try to do is get ahead of the ballooning effect of anglers that would be leaving the Kenai to go fish the Kasilof at a less restrictive regulation. We pair those two up, protect the wild late run of Kasilof at the same time as the Kenai.”
In Kasilof, the retention of king salmon is prohibited while sport fishing on the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge. In Kenai, the retention of king salmon is prohibited while sport fishing on the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake. 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.
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