The personal-use dipnet fishery opens at 6 a.m. on the Kenai River on Saturday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced this week.
Dipnetting is only available to Alaska residents with a current Upper Cook Inlet personal-use permit and a sport fishing license.
Anglers aren’t permitted to keep any king salmon of any size. If caught, they must be released immediately back into the river unharmed.
The ADF&G issued an emergency order last month prohibiting the use of bait on the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek. The order took effect July 1.
Because of statutes listed in the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan, bait bans also require a ban on king salmon retention in the personal-use fishery, according to the ADF&G. Sport fishing anglers can still keep king salmon from the mouth upstream to Slikok Creek, Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka said on Thursday.
Hours to dipnet on the Kenai River are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day from July 10 through July 31.
For more information contact Lipka at 907-262-9368.
This story has been updated.
Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.
