Division of Sport Fish
Tom Taube, Acting Director

Anchorage Headquarters Office
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518


Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner

P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
www.adfg.alaska.gov


Advisory Announcement
(Released: March 02, 2023 - Expired: June 30, 2023)

CONTACT: Jenny Gates
Acting Area Management Biologist
(907) 262-9368

Kasilof River Early-Run King Salmon Restricted Beginning May 1

(Soldotna) – To protect returning king salmon and ensure fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation restrictions for early-run king salmon in the Kasilof River drainage effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 1 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023. The bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length is two hatchery-produced fish. Hatchery-produced king salmon are recognizable by a healed adipose fin-clip scar. Naturally-produced king salmon of any size may not be possessed or retained and are distinguishable by an intact adipose fin, a small fleshy fin on the back of the fish just ahead of the tail. Naturally-produced king salmon that are caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Additionally, only one single hook either baited, unbaited, or on an artificial lure may be used beginning 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, May 16 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023. Single-hook means a fishhook with only one point.

ADF&G manages the Kasilof River early-run king salmon sport fishery to achieve a sustainable escapement goal of 700–1,400 naturally-produced king salmon as monitored through an ADF&G weir located on Crooked Creek. Crooked Creek king salmon are used to supplement king salmon stocking programs across Southcentral Alaska.

“To achieve an adequate escapement and collection of naturally-produced king salmon brood stock in 2023, as well as increasing the success of anglers targeting Kasilof River hatchery-produced king salmon returning to Crooked Creek, ADF&G has determined restrictions to the early-run king salmon sport fishery in the Kasilof River are needed to achieve these goals,” stated Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates.

For additional information, please contact Acting Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates at (907) 262-9368.

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