Setnetting will open in the Kenai, Kasilof, and East Forelands sections of the upper Cook Inlet from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on Thursday, July 16.
Commercial Fisheries Management Biologist Pat Shields…
Shields: “Drift gillnetting will be open in the Expanded Kenai, Expanded Kasilof, and Anchor Point sections of the Upper Subdistrict on Thursday, July 16, 2015 from 7:00a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Drifters are reminded that fishing with drift gillnets in the Anchor Point Section may not occur within one and one-half miles of the mean high tide mark. Drifting is also not open in the Expanded Kenai and Expanded Kasilof Section within one mile of the mean high tide mark north of the Kenai River and within one and one half miles of the mean high tide mark south of the Kenai River when fishing with set gillnets in these areas is closed.”
The estimated cumulative passage of sockeye salmon in the Kasilof River through Tuesday, July 14, was approximately 256,000 fish. The biological escapement goal (BEG) for Kasilof River sockeye salmon is 160,000–340,000 fish, while the optimal escapement goal (OEG) is 160,000– 390,000 fish. This level of passage is projected to exceed of the upper end of the BEG and OEG.
In the Kenai River, the estimated cumulative passage of sockeye salmon through Tuesday, July 14, was approximately 180,000 fish, which is the second highest passage measured in the Kenai River through this date in the last 10 years (2006–2015).