In 2024, a run of approximately 5.72 million sockeye salmon is forecast to return to Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) with an estimate of 3.70 million available for harvest (commercial, sport, personal use, and subsistence).
The Kenai River sockeye salmon forecast is approximately 3.38 million fish. The 2024 Kenai River forecast is 500,000 (14%) fish less than the historical (1986–2023) average run of 3.88 million, but 215,000 (6%) fish more than the recent 10-year (2014–2023) average run of 3.17 million.
The Kenai River forecast has overestimated the total run by an average of 0.8% over the past 10 years with a range of -42% to 59%. For sockeye salmon runs 2.3–4.6 million fish, the Kenai River Late-Run Sockeye Salmon Management Plan (KRLSSMP) stipulates ADF&G manage to the SEG range of 750,000–1,300,000 and achieve an inriver goal of 1.1 to 1.4 million fish. The bdepartment will formally reassess the UCI sockeye salmon run after July 20.
The Kasilof River sockeye salmon run forecast is approximately 1.12 million fish. The Kasilof River forecast has overestimated the total run by an average of 7% over the past 10 years with a
range of -35% to 79%. The 2024 forecast is 201,000 fish (20%) greater than the historical (1986– 2023) average run of 0.91 million fish and 174,000 fish (17%) greater than the recent 10- year
(2014–2023) average run.
Approximately 303,400 and 86,690 sockeye salmon are forecast to return to the Susitna River and Fish Creek respectively in 2024. The 2024 Susitna River sockeye salmon forecast is 127,400 fish
(35%) below the historical (2002–2023) average run and 71,600 fish (21%) below the recent 10- year (2014–2023) average run. The 2024 Fish Creek sockeye salmon forecast is 25,450 fish (26%)
below the historical average but the same as the recent 10-year average run size.
Set Gillnet Season Opening Dates
Season opening dates in 2024 for the various fisheries around the inlet are as follows:
• Northern District directed king salmon fishery: The directed king salmon fishery is closed to start the 2024 season until Deshka River king salmon sport fisheries are opened (EO # 2-F-H-1-
24).
• Northern District set gillnet fishery: June 27, unless modified by emergency order. Weekly fishing periods are Mondays and Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Big River fishery: June 3 and continuing through June 24, unless the 1,000 king salmon harvest limit is reached prior to that date. Weekly fishing periods are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Western Subdistrict set gillnet fishery: June 17, weekly fishing periods are Mondays and Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Upper Subdistrict Set Gillnet fishery (ESSN): The ESSN fishery will begin closed and may only open if Kenai late-run king salmon projections indicate achievement of the recovery goal.
• All remaining set gillnet fisheries, except the ESSN fishery: June 27, weekly fishing periods are Mondays and Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
