Contact:
Tom Vania
Regional Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 267-2131
June 13, 2012
Sport fishing for any species is prohibited within one mile of shore in the salt waters of Cook Inlet south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River to the latitude of Bluff Point beginning 12:01 a.m., Friday, June 15, 2012, through 11:59 p.m., Saturday, June 30, 2012.
The northern boundary of the closed area at the Ninilchik mouth is 60° 03.99' N. latitude and the southern boundary at Bluff Point is at 59° 40.00’ N. latitude. Please refer to page 19 of the 2012 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a map depicting the special harvest area.
King salmon runs on the Kenai Peninsula are of below average run strength. Sport fishing restrictions to inriver fisheries have been enacted on the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Ninilchik River, Kasilof River, and Kenai River in an effort to achieve adequate escapement into these streams. King salmon of Cook Inlet origin generally have a higher probability of being harvested near shore than do king salmon from other locations. Mature (spawners) king salmon also tend to be harvested near shore at a greater rate than immature (non-local) king salmon. Therefore, it is justified to close salt waters within one mile while these locally spawning king salmon migrate through the area and into fresh water.
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