The Board of Fisheries (BOF) adopted several proposals establishing new sport fishing regulations for Kenai fisheries. Regulatory changes are summarized below as a service to anglers, and not a complete digest of all sport fishing regulations. The new regulations will take effect with the release of the 2024 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet when it is issued in April of 2024.
According to Area Management Biologist Phillip Stacey, the biggest change, which isn’t a big change from last year, is that king fishing/sport fishing will be closed.
“There’s going to be no targeted phishing, no retention. Any king caught must be released for the early and late run. Then, the Board of Fish put out there and made some changes. We’re gonna increase our sockeye bag limit starting June 20th. It’s going to be 6 per day with 12 in possession. And there have been quite a few restrictions on the commercial set net fishery. So that is what is causing the increase in the stock eye bag limit,” said Stacey.
While there are a couple of rule changes to this year’s sport fishing regulations, Stacy says it’s important to follow them so nobody gets in trouble.
“That’s always a concern, but we try and make sure that we get the word out as quickly and effectively as possible so that everyone is following the rules,” said Stacy.
Kenai River
- Kenai River late-run king salmon were designated a Stock of Concern and a Stock of Concern Management Plan was created to help the stock recover. Elements of the plan affecting sport fisheries are:
- The department shall manage the late run of Kenai River king salmon to achieve a recovery goal of 14,250 – 30,000 king salmon 75 cm mid eye to tail fork and longer.
- If the recovery goal is projected to be achieved, the commissioner may allow catch-and-release of king salmon in the sport fishery or allow retention of king salmon 34 inches or greater in length
- If the recovery goal is projected to not be achieved, the Kenai River is closed to sport fishing for king salmon; a king salmon that is caught must be released immediately; a person may not remove a king salmon from the water before releasing the fish;
- from July 1 through August 15, a person may not use more than one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Kenai River downstream from the outlet of Skilak Lake;
- from June 20 through August 15, from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to Skilak Lake the bag limit for sockeye salmon is six per day, 12 in possession;
- The department shall manage the late run of Kenai River king salmon to achieve a recovery goal of 14,250 – 30,000 king salmon 75 cm mid eye to tail fork and longer.
- The sport fisheries in the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point at 59° 40.00′ N. lat., are closed to the taking of king salmon from June 20 through August 15.
In addition to the Stock of Concern Management Plan, the board took actions on other aspects of Kenai River sport fisheries:
- The area limited to sport fishing with one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Lower Section of the Kenai River was extended and effective dates were increased from two months to year-round.
- Closed Hidden Lake to all sport fishing between September 15 – November 30
- A king salmon that is released, may not be removed from the water in the personal use dip net fishery in the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers.