A number of changes to fishing regulations were issued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Friday.
Biologist Jason Pawluk detailed the changes which go into effect on Saturday, July 25.
Pawluk: “The restriction on bait has been lifted so bait is allowed on the entire Kenai River from Skilak Lake downstream to it’s mouth. King salmon fishing is only permitted from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to ADF&G markers located 300 yards downstream of Slikok Creek, so that’s basically the bottom 18 river miles. In the Kenai River Personal Use Fishery, the retention of salmon has been reinstated so you are allowed to retain one king salmon per household permit.”
Bait and multiple hooks will be allowed on the Kasilof River Saturday but the Kenai River is still only allowed single barbed hooks.
The bag limit for sport fishing on the Kenai River remains one king per day, two annually, and on the Kasilof River is five fish.
Only five kings may be kept from the Upper Cook Inlet salt and fresh waters annually.
The lift of the king salmon restrictions for sport fishing also placed the East Side Set Net fishery back into scheduled openings.
Pawluk: “Two regular periods which are on Mondays and Thursdays, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. The commercial East Side Set Net Fishery will also have an additional 51 hours of emergency order times.”
