The Department of Fish and Game is increasing the Kasilof River bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon to six fish per day and 12 fish in possession. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon, a Monday press release from the Department of Fish and Game said.
“Increasing the limits for sockeye salmon allows anglers an opportunity to harvest additional fish to fill their freezer,” area management biologist for the Department of Fish and Game, Colton Lipka, said.
The bag and possession limits go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The bag and possession limit will stay into effect until Dec. 31.
As of Sunday, a total of 231,900 sockeye salmon have passed the Kasilof River sonar site.
The current escapement of sockeye salmon in the Kasilof River is proceeding at a rate projected to exceed the biological escapement goal.
In addition to increasing bag and possession limits, the Department of Fish and Game also issued an emergency order expanding the area open to dipnetting.
Dipnetting from the shore will be allowed in an expanded area, from Department of Fish and Game markers on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Dipnetting from a boat is allowed from the Department of Fish and Game markers located on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to Department of Fish and Game markers at approximately river mile 3 of the Kasilof River.
The expansion of the dipnetting area goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The dipnet area expansion is in effect until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 7.
Dipnetting on the Kasilof River is allowed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and requires an Upper Cook Inlet Personal use permit and a 2019 Resident Sport Fishing license. Only Alaska residents may participate. King salmon or other non-salmon species may not be kept, the release said.
