A Northern Kenai Fishing Report published by the State Department of Fish and Game on Thursday says sockeye salmon fishing has slowed, but some silvers are being caught.
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.” On the middle river, fishing “remains steady.” 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 Friday last week, Aug. 9. At that time, over 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.
The Kenai River’s late-run of king salmon, which cannot be retained or removed from the water, has as of Thursday only seen 6,400 large kings. More than 12,000 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 47,000 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-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-KS-1-44-24 closes the Kasilof River to bait and restricts gear to single hook only through Sept. 15.
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.
