Contact:
Robert Begich
Area Management Biologist
Phone: 907-262-9368
February 19, 2015
Kenai River anglers are advised that, in an effort to meet the early-run king salmon escapement goal in 2015, the early-run fishery will be closed as follows:
From 12:01 a.m., Friday, May 1, through 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2015:
• In the Kenai River, from the mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake, king salmon fishing is closed. No king salmon of any size may be retained. King salmon may not be targeted and any king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
From 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, July 1, through 11:59 p.m., Friday, July 31, 2015:
• In the Kenai River, from ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake, king salmon fishing is closed. No king salmon of any size may be retained. King salmon may not be targeted and any king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
Kenai River king salmon and other king salmon stocks throughout Cook Inlet are experiencing a period of low productivity and, since 2009, below average strength. That trend is anticipated to continue during the 2015 season. The 2015 preseason forecast for early-run Kenai River king salmon is for a total run of approximately 5,200 fish. If realized the 2015 run would be similar in abundance to the 2014 run and rank as one of the lowest run measured (29th out or 30 years). Since the 2015 total run forecast is less than the lower end of the optimal escapement goal, and king salmon abundance in Cook Inlet is expected to be below average, closing the fishery prior to the arrival of any king salmon, is warranted until data from inseason assessment projects indicate that fishing opportunity can be afforded without jeopardizing achievement of the optimal escapement goal.
For information about the 2015 Kenai River early-run king salmon outlook visit our website at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ByAreaSouthcentralUpperKenai.fishingInfo#/outlook