Contact:
Robert Begich
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 262-9368

As of June 27, three out of the four indices used to assess the abundance of early-run king salmon in the Kenai River indicate a run that is well below average. All department assessment methods indicate the run is similar to the runs of 2009 and 2010 that produced escapements estimated to be near the lower bound of the optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 5,300 to 9,000 early-run king salmon. Due to the high level of uncertainty of whether the minimum escapement of 5,300 fish will be achieved it is warranted to conserve Kenai River early-run king salmon in an area of the river where they are susceptible to a harvest rate that could result in an escapement below the OEG.

Anglers are advised that in the Kenai River drainage from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake, and in the Moose River from its confluence with the Kenai River upstream to the northern-most edge of the Sterling Highway Bridge, the Kenai River early-run king salmon sport fishery will be restricted as follows:

• Only king salmon less than 20 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length may be retained. King salmon 20 inches or greater in length and less than 55 inches in length may not be possessed or retained, may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately from 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, June 29, through 11:59 p.m., Thursday, July 14, 2011. Harvest of king salmon less than 20 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length is still allowed.
• Use of bait is not allowed from 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, June 29, through 11:59 p.m., Thursday, July 14, 2011.
• Beginning Friday, July 1 bait is allowed only downstream of the ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek.

For information of inseason assessment of Kenai River king salmon visit our website at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/.

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