The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued multiple advisory announcements for sport anglers and dipnetters on the Kasilof and Kenai rivers Tuesday.
Kenai River
The retention of king salmon is prohibited in the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery effective 6 a.m. July 10 through 11 p.m. July 31, the department stated. Any kings caught must not be removed from the water, but released immediately to protect the species.
The department is also prohibiting the use of multiple hooks and bait on the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to a regulatory marker located around 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek.
Dipnetting is open on the Kenai River July 10 through July 31 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery, and anglers must purchase both an Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit and an Alaska Sport Fishing license.
Kasilof River
The department is expanding the dipnetting area on the Kasilof River.
Anglers may participate in the fishery from the markers on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge on the Kasilof River, and dipnetting from a boat is allowed from the markers on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to markers around River Mile 3. These charges are effective 12:01 July 7 through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 7.
Dipnetting on the Kasilof is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any king salmon, Dolly Varden or rainbow and steelhead trout caught while dipnetting must be released unharmed into the river.
The department also issued an increase in sockeye limits for sport fishing anglers on the Kasilof River. Anglers are now permitted six sockeye, 16 inches or greater in length per day, and 12 in possession. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession can be coho.
The new limit provisions are effective 12:01 a.m. July 7 through 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31.
For more information, reach the Department of Fish and Game at 907-262-9368.
Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.
