After concerns arose regarding a recent Alaska Department of Fish and Game emergency order that limited the bag limit for Coho salmon on the Kenai Peninsula and around the state, questions were raised about whether or not the 2024 Kenai Silver Salmon Derby should proceed. However, the Kenai Chamber of Commerce, the City of Kenai, and ADF&G all agreed that the river could still be fished responsibly if the Derby were to continue.
“We’re really excited to continue the Derby,” said Kenai Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Samantha Spring. “We talked to Alaska Department of Fish and Game to make sure that we were still being responsible by having the Derby. So, with the recent restrictions and careful consideration, we decided with Alaska Department efficient game that they. Work in the Derby practices already that focus on sustainable fishing, that we’d be able to continue the Derby as planned.”
The changes are based on the performance indicators of both freshwater and saltwater sport fisheries throughout Southcentral Alaska. “This year’s coho salmon run is well below average, and restrictions or closures have already been issued for the Northern Cook Inlet area, Anchorage Bowl Area, and Valdez,” the department said in a press release issued on Aug. 21.
Fish and Game Coordinator Matt Miller said tracking Coho numbers is a challenge, primarily due to the inability of sonar equipment to distinguish between small King salmon, large Sockeye, and normal-sized Coho. “We rely pretty heavily on what we hear from folks and talking to guides and anglers that are out there,” Miller said.
Reports of low catch rates, among other data, led to ADF&G’s decision to reduce Coho bag limits. That was when officials with the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby became concerned about the feasibility of this year’s contest. They wanted to make sure continuing the Derby wouldn’t place further strain on the Coho population.
However, Miller says that the department has been receiving reports of anglers having success catching Silvers. He said they want people to enjoy the resource, and he believes that the Derby can be executed responsibly. “We don’t really see a need at this point to do further restrictions, and [we] encourage folks to get out there and enjoy the resource.”
“We’ve been trying to find that balance throughout this season of protecting the Coho resource and taking restrictions where we needed,” Miller added, “and if it looked like we still had some opportunity we could provide for folks and anglers, then we were letting them do that and that’s the case in Kenai and Kasilof.”
The 2024 Kenai Silver Salmon Derby runs from Sep. 10 to 15. Tickets are $10 per day or $50 for the entire tournament and can be purchased at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce, Three Bears, or online.
The Derby awards prizes using a Magic Weight that is randomly drawn at the end of each derby day. Since any fish over four pounds is eligible to win, anglers of all skill levels have a chance to earn prizes.
Miller emphasized that Derby’s, like the one in Kenai, are not permitted by ADF&G but that he appreciated the City and Chamber’s willingness to ensure safe and responsible practices before continuing with this year’s contest. “As everyone knows, we’ve had some poor returns of Coho salmon and have taken restrictions throughout Cook Inlet this season. So, I appreciated the Derby folks reaching out from the chamber, reaching out to check with us.”
