Contact:
Robert Begich
Management Biologist
Phone: 907-262-9368

The Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery will open July 10 and continue through July 31. Retention of king salmon in the Kenai River personal use fishery will be prohibited in 2013. Any king salmon caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately unharmed.

Based upon the preseason forecast, the 2013 Kenai River king salmon run is expected to be below average. Based upon the poor performance of king salmon stocks in Cook Inlet and other areas of the state, it is likely the Kenai River late-run king salmon stock will also experience poor performance. The 2013 late-run king salmon sport fishery was restricted from using bait in the Kenai River. Initial indicators of Kenai River late-run strength are below average, with a cumulative DIDSON sonar count of 694 king salmon through July 4, and poor catch rates in both the east-side set net commercial and inriver sport fisheries over the holiday weekend. Therefore, as directed by the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan, the personal use fishery will be managed to conserve king salmon in an effort to avoid additional restrictions or closure to the sport fishery. 

Based on the preseason forecast, the 2013 sockeye salmon run to the Kenai River is expected to be above average. The personal use fishery will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day, from July 10 through July 31. A permit is required to participate; permits and regulations that apply to the fishery are available at local vendors and ADF&G offices.

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

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