The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports Upper Cook Inlet Commercial Fishing Announcement No. 26 opens commercial fishing with drift gillnets in the Expanded Kenai, Expanded Kasilof, and Anchor Point sections of the Central District from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, and from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.
Area Management Biologist Brian Marston reminds residents that no Upper Subdistrict set gillnet fishing periods will be opened unless the Kenai River late run king salmon abundance improves.
Marston adds that, as of July 24, Kasilof River sockeye salmon escapement is approximately 724,622 fish and 70% complete, projecting a final escapement of 1.0 million fish. The biological escapement goal for Kasilof River sockeye salmon of 140,000 to 320,000 has been exceeded. In the Kenai River, sockeye salmon escapement is approximately 955,671 fish and 41% complete, projecting an in river run of 2.3 to 2.9 million sockeye salmon based on average to 3 day late run timings.
Fish harvested in these drift gillnet fishing periods should be reported in statistical areas 244-57.
