Everyone interested in quality fishing in Alaska and the well-being of our sport fish populations should be concerned about the coho (silver) salmon population in the Kenai River.
During the most recent coho salmon run (August/September 2024) on the Kenai River, daily bag limits in September had to be reduced during the fishing season from three fish per person down to one fish and the use of bait was terminated.
During late September when coho fishing is normally very good, it was almost impossible to catch even one silver salmon. I have been advocating for years to reduce the late run (September) coho daily bag limit from three fish to two fish per person.
During the last few years, the coho population numbers in September has been erratic and unpredictable, with few fish some years.
The number of anglers on the Kenai River in September has dramatically increased in recent years. Alaska Department of Fish and Game does not seem to have a good handle on the Kenai River coho population numbers, trends and angler pressure. Law enforcement on the river during the coho run is almost nonexistent. Anglers are required to stop fishing when they reach their daily bag limit and “party fishing to obtain a boat limit” is not allowed under the regulations. Yet part fishing seems to be the norm with many guides and anglers.
I am surprised to see the late-run Kenai River coho daily bag limit set at three fish per day again in 2025. This needs to be reduced to two fish.
Why is conservation of our natural resources so mismanaged in Alaska? Although ecosystem biology and commercial harvest of the coho differs from the king salmon, did we not learn anything from the disappearance of the kings from the Kenai River?
Why is the conservation of our natural resources so mismanaged in Alaska! We need to start by removing politics from the Fish and Game boards and promote management by professional biologists.
Bob Standish is a Kenai resident and retired Fish and Wildlife biologist.
