(Released: July 13, 2018 - Expired: July 31, 2018)

Division of Sport Fish
Tom Brookover, Director
Anchorage Headquarters Office
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518


Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Sam Cotten, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
www.adfg.alaska.gov


Contact: Mike Booz, Assistant Area Management Biologist
(907) 235-8191

Lower Cook Inlet Marine Conservation Zone Closures

(Homer) – To protect returning king salmon and fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing closure effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 16 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2018. King salmon fishing is closed within the conservation zones surrounding the Anchor River, Stariski Creek, Deep Creek, and Ninilchik River. King salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other fish may not be removed from the water and must be immediately released. Anglers can review page 74 of the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for additional information on the conservation zones.

“With the extremely low escapement numbers of king salmon in the Lower Cook Inlet roadside streams, we need to extend the time the conservation zones are in effect to protect any king salmon returning to these Lower Cook Inlet systems” stated Assistant Area Management Biologist Mike Booz. “Maintaining the conservation zones surrounding the stream mouths by prohibiting retention of king salmon provides that buffer and still allows anglers to fish for coho salmon or halibut in these corridors.”

In conjunction with this closure, a sport fishing regulation restriction was issued restricting sport fishing gear in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Stariski Creek, and Ninilchik River drainages to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Carol Kerkvliet or Assistant Area Management Biologist Mike Booz at (907) 235-8191.

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