Less than a week after bag limits for sockeye salmon were increased on the Russian River and parts of the Kenai River, the State Department of Fish and Game has again announced a bump to the number of salmon that can be caught in the areas.
Starting Saturday, the department announced on Thursday, nine sockeye can be caught per day, and 18 can be in possession on the Russian River and a section of the mainstem Upper Kenai River that extends from Skilak Lake upstream to markers located 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing, including the Russian River Sanctuary Area.
As of Wednesday, more than 30,000 sockeye have passed the Russian River weir. The department says it anticipates that the biological escapement goal for early-run sockeye salmon in the Russian River — 22,000-42,000 — will be exceeded in the next few days.
“Fish passage at the weir is strong and projected to exceed the escapement goal,” Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates said in the release. “Given the strength of the run, it is appropriate to increase bag limits and give anglers increased opportunity to harvest more fish.”
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
