Kenai River anglers are advised that to continue the protection of late-run king salmon, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is extending the prohibition of multiple hooks in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to ADF&G markers at the confluence of the Moose River effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 16 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2024. Anglers may use only one baited or unbaited, single-hook or single-hook lure in these waters. “Single-hook” means a fish hook with only one point.
Kenai River late-run king salmon were designated as a Stock of Concern by the Alaska Board of Fisheries at its March 2024 meeting and the inriver sport fishery was closed for 2024, including catch-and-release fishing. Incidentally caught king salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Even with the fishery closure, as of August 11, 2024, only approximately 6,070 king salmon 75 cm mid-eye to tail fork and longer have passed the river mile 13.7 king salmon sonar. In-season projections estimate the Recovery Goal of 14,250 – 30,000 large king salmon established by the Alaska Board of Fisheries will not be achieved. Therefore, prohibiting multiple hooks is warranted to reduce mortality of incidentally caught king salmon.
“King salmon runs throughout Cook Inlet have been exceedingly weak this year,” state biologist Matt Miller. “We need to take precautions to reduce mortality of Kenai River king salmon that have returned inriver. Besides using single hook, anglers should exercise good angling practices by avoiding fishing for coho salmon in areas of the river where king salmon are concentrated and to cut leaders or lines to avoid stressing incidentally hooked king salmon.”