A Northern Kenai Fishing Report published by the State Department of Fish and Game on Wednesday says that sockeye fishing is still slowing. The department on Wednesday also issued a series of emergency orders restricting coho salmon harvest in response to weak returns.
Coho concerns
A slew of new emergency orders were issued on Wednesday, limiting coho salmon bag limits to one in Kenai Peninsula fresh water, the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, Resurrection Bay and Cook Inlet starting on Saturday, Aug. 24.
On the Kenai River, the restriction is effective until midnight on Aug. 31, when the limit will increase to two.
An advisory announcement accompanying the order says that assessment of coho salmon throughout Cook Inlet is indicating “weak runs.” On the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, though, the runs are “able to sustain some harvest.” That’s why the limit on the Kenai is set to be lifted at the end of the month.
“Although we’re seeing poor runs of coho salmon around Cook Inlet, so far the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers look comparable to recent years,” says biologist Matt Miller in the release. “We’d like to allow anglers to efficiently harvest coho salmon but reduce the bag limit as we watch how this run shapes up.”
In all Kenai Peninsula fresh waters excluding the Kenai River, the coho restriction is effective through the end of the year. That is also the case for Resurrection Bay and Cook Inlet saltwaters.
Another advisory announcement says that closures have already been issued in northern Cook Inlet, the Anchorage Bowl and Valdez because of “well below average” returns of silvers.
“Unfortunately, coho salmon seem to be experiencing a downward trend in productivity similar to king salmon,” says area manager Mike Booz in the release. “Given this trend and uncertainty in coho salmon escapement for most of the Kenai Peninsula, restricting the harvest for the remainder of the season will reduce any potential negative impacts to these stocks.”
On the Kasilof, another emergency order newly allows bait on the river from the river mouth to the Sterling Highway Bridge from Saturday, Aug. 24 to Sept. 15. Bait still is not allowed from the bridge to the department markers at the outlet of Tustumena Lake.
Freshwater Fishing
The Kenai River is open for fishing for all species other than king salmon. The report says sockeye salmon fishing in the lower river “has slowed dramatically.” The sockeye bag limit from the mouth of the river upstream to Skilak Lake has dropped to three per day and six in possession.
Daily Kenai River sockeye counts from the department haven’t been updated since Aug. 9. At that time, more than 1.9 million sockeye salmon had been counted by sonar on the Kenai River during the late run. The escapement goal for the species on the river is 750,000 to 1.3 million and has been exceeded.
Silver salmon are being caught in the lower river with “some success.” The limit is two per day and two in possession until the new emergency orders go into effect on Saturday.
The Kenai River’s late-run of king salmon, which cannot be retained or removed from the water, has as of Monday only seen 6,600 large kings. Over 13,000 had been counted at this time last year. This year’s count is also far below the optimal escapement goal for the species of 15,000 to 30,000 fish.
Russian River and the Russian River sanctuary area are open to sockeye fishing. Sockeye are “steadily arriving,” the report says. The daily limit for sockeye salmon on the Russian River and in Russian River Sanctuary is three and the possession limit is six.
On the Russian River, nearly 57,000 sockeye have been counted as of Thursday in the late run.
The Kasilof River is closed to all king salmon fishing, including catch and release or for hatchery salmon. More than 1 million sockeye have been counted on the river, and the report says sockeye arrival “has slowed.”
The escapement goal for Kasilof sockeye is 140,000 to 370,000, exceeded on July 9.
Saltwater Fishing
Fishers are “continuing to have success” shore fishing for both halibut and cod at local beaches, the report says.
Local Lakes
Fishing on local lakes “has been good.” Spirit Lake road reopened last weekend.
Emergency Orders
Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
NEW: Emergency Order 2-SS-1-55-24 reduces the limit for coho salmon in the Kenai River to a bag and possession of one fish, effective Saturday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Aug. 31; and a bag and possession of two coho salmon Sunday, Sept. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 30.
NEW: Emergency Order 2-KS-1-54-24 supersedes EO 2-KS-1-44-24 issued Wednesday, July 31 and allows one baited, single hook or single-hook, artificial lure while sport fishing in the Kasilof River from its mouth upstream to the downstream side of the Sterling Highway Bridge. In addition, from the Sterling Highway Bridge upstream to Tustumena Lake, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used.
Emergency Order 2-KS-1-50-24 restricts sport fishing gear to one single-hook while sport fishing in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers at the Moose River confluence through Aug. 31.
Emergency Order 2-RS-1-27-24 order increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or longer, to six fish per day and 12 in possession in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing.
The 2024 sport fishing license can be purchased through the Alaska Department of Fish and game mobile app, or at their website, adfg.alaska.gov.
