As of today, the Kenai River late run king fishery opened with restrictions as the Upper Cook Inlet Commercial fishery went into 36-hours per week openings by emergency order.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sports Fishing Manager Robert Begich said there were around 116 guide boats on the Kenai River this morning and detailed which parts of the Kenai River opened.
Begich: “About 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slicock Creek, so that’s about River Mile 18 and it opens from there only downstream, the rest of the river above that remains closed to king salmon fishing.”
Anglers may use only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in the Kenai River.
It was not the only fishery liberalized today.
Begich: “Kasilof River, the personal use fishery has been expanded, you’re allowed to dipnet from shore all the way up to the Sterling Highway bridge and you can do it from a boat up to ADF&G marker located at River Mile 3. And then also the sockeye salmon sport fishery at Kasilof is liberalized by doubling the bag limit from three to six and possession limit there is twelve per day.”
As those sport and personal use fisheries were expanded, the regularly scheduled commercial fishing periods in the Upper Cook Inlet were reduced to 36-hours per week by emergency order only.
That is in accordance with the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan which aims to ensure an adequate escapement for late run kings.
The sustainable escapement goal for late-run Kenai River king salmon is 15,000-30,000 and the inriver late-run prediction is less than 22,500.