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ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Cora Campbell, Acting Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Charles O. Swanton, Director

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

July 30, 2013

BAIT AND MULTIPLE HOOKS PROHIBITED IN LOWER KENAI RIVER SPORT FISHERY AUGUST 1 - 15 TO CONSERVE KING SALMON

Kenai River anglers are advised that, in an effort to continue protection of late-run king salmon, the department is prohibiting the use of bait and multiple hooks in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the Sterling Highway bridge in Soldotna, effective 12:01 a.m., Thursday, August 1, through 11:59 p.m., Thursday, August 15, 2013. Anglers may use only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in these waters. 

“Single hook” means a fishhook with only one point (with or without a barb).

Upstream of the Sterling Highway bridge in Soldotna to the outlet of Skilak Lake, anglers may use bait and multiple hooks. After August 15, general regulations as described on Page 48 of the 2013 Southcentral Regulations Summary booklet apply to the Kenai River below the Soldotna Bridge.

Anglers are reminded that king salmon fishing is closed starting August 1, including catch-and-release fishing. Incidentally hooked king salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Anglers should exercise good sportsmanship by avoiding fishing for coho salmon in areas of the river where king salmon are concentrated and to cut leaders or lines to avoid stressing incidentally hooked king salmon.

Through July 30, indices used to assess abundance of late-run king salmon in the Kenai River indicate the 2013 run is the lowest on record. The sustainable escapement goal (SEG) for Kenai River late-run king salmon is 15,000 to 30,000 king salmon. As of July 29, the DIDSON sonar cumulative estimate of king salmon passage into the Kenai River was 11,746 fish. The projected sport harvest and catch and release mortality of king salmon in the Kenai River upstream of the sonar through the end of the season as estimated by an in-season creel survey is approximately 1,571 fish. Based on assessment of the inriver return, the projected escapement is less than the escapement goal. Therefore, these measures are warranted to continue to conserve late-run Kenai River king salmon needed for escapement.

For information of inseason assessment of Kenai River king salmon visit our website at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.home

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