In an effort to allow dipnetters a greater chance to harvest their household limits of sockeye salmon on the Kasilof River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is expanding the Kasilof River personal use dipnetting area.
Personal use dipnetting from the shore will be allowed in an expanded area from Alaska Department of Fish and Game markers on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge on the Kasilof River. Dipnetting from a boat is allowed from Alaska Department of Fish and Game markers located on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to Department markers at approximately river mile 3 of the Kasilof River. This regulatory change went into effect today, July 3 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 7.
Dipnetting on the Kasilof River is allowed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit and a 2020 resident sport fishing license are required to participate. Only Alaska residents can participate. King salmon or non-salmon species may not be kept in the Kasilof River personal use salmon fishery. Any king salmon, Dolly Varden, or rainbow/steelhead trout caught while dipnetting must be released immediately unharmed to the water.
The biological escapement goal on the Kasilof River is 140,000 – 320,000 sockeye salmon. As of Monday, June 29, a total of 79,292 sockeye salmon passed the Kasilof River sonar site. The current escapement of sockeye salmon into the Kasilof River is proceeding at a rate that is projected to exceed the biological escapement goal.