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

Starting on 12:01am, Saturday, July 25, the use of bait/scent in the Kenai River will be allowed from its mouth, upstream to regulatory markers located at the outlet of Skilak Lake.  King salmon fishing will remain restricted to those waters downstream of the ADF&G markers located approximately 300 yards downstream of Slikok Creek.

Inseason run projections are stronger than expected and indicate a run larger than the pre-season forecast. Through July 22, the estimated total passage of late-run king salmon at the river mile 14 sonar was 11,079 fish.  In the previous two years using the ARIS sonar, 38% and 41% of the run passed the sonar site at river mile 14 through July 22.  Through July 22 the projected inriver run of late-run Kenai River king salmon (which includes the projected season total inriver harvest of king salmon downstream of the sonar) is 23,500 to 31,000 fish. Projections of the sport harvest from July 25 through July 31 indicate an additional harvest of 1,200 to 3,500 fish with the use of bait will result in a projected end of season escapement of 20,500 to 25,600 fish. 

Kenai River king salmon have been experiencing a period of low productivity and below average run strength in recent years.  Although the 2015 run is improved, inseason run projections remain below the historical average total run size.  Therefore the sport fishery will remain closed to king salmon fishing upstream of the ADF&G markers located approximately 300 yards downstream of Slikok Creek.  By regulation, the king salmon fishing season ends Friday, July 31.

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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