King salmon fishing on the Kenai River has been closed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for the 3rd consecutive year. Kings were designated a stock of concern by the department, which posted several fishery closures and gear restrictions on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
“To protect returning king salmon and ensure sport fishing opportunities in the future, consistent with stipulations in the Kenai River late-run king salmon stock of concern management plan, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is closing the late-run king salmon sport fishery in the Kenai River drainage downstream of the outlet of Skilak Lake effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 20, 2025 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 15,” the department said in its Kenai River Late-Tun King Salmon Fishery announcement.
According to the announcement, fishing for king salmon of any size, including catch-and-release, is closed. King salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
The 2025 preseason forecast for Kenai River late-run king salmon is 8,742 large fish, and the total run forecast is less than the recovery escapement goal range of 14,250-30,000 fish. This means the 2025 forecast is 27% less than the recent 5-year average estimated total run of approximately 12,100 large fish.
If realized, that would make this the 2nd lowest run in the past 38 years.
“We’re falling way below that requirement of the 14,250, and so we are directed to close that fishery to all retention until we have better in-season data saying that we’re gonna make that goal,” said Area Management Biologist Phill Stacey.
Stacey said the overall decline in the king salmon population is due to a culmination of factors. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be river-specific because we’re seeing declines in king runs all over the state. So, our understanding is it seems like it’s going to be a larger, maybe oceanic conditions that are driving down the poor recruitment and retention.”
Other areas with fishery closure or bait and gear restriction include portions of the Cook Inlet, the Kasilof, and the Ninilchik Rivers.
For more information on closures and restrictions, visit adfg.alaska.gov.
