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ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Sam Cotten, Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Tom Brookover, Director

Contact:
Carol Kerkvliet
Assistant Management Biologist
Phone: 907-235-8191

June 16, 2016

NINILCHIK RIVER OPEN TO HARVEST OF HATCHERY KING SALMON JUNE 18 THROUGH JULY 15

 The Ninilchik River will open to the harvest of hatchery-reared king salmon beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 18 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2016.

King salmon are stocked in the Ninilchik River each year by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This provides sport fish anglers additional opportunity to harvest king salmon while reducing the potential for over harvest of naturally-produced king salmon.

The department conducted a survey on June 14 and found approximately 60 percent of king salmon in the river from its mouth upstream two miles were hatchery-reared king salmon, while 40 percent were wild king salmon.

Hatchery-reared king salmon can be recognized by a missing adipose fin and healed fin clip scar. The adipose fin is a small, fleshy fin located just in front of the tail.

Below is a summary of sport fishing regulations on the Ninilchik River:

  • The Ninilchik River is open to fishing for king salmon from its mouth upstream
  • approximately two miles to the department regulatory marker.
  • Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used to minimize release
  • mortality.
  • The bag and possession limit is one hatchery-reared king salmon 20 inches or
  • longer and 10 hatchery-reared king salmon less than 20 inches.
  • King salmon with an adipose fin may not be removed from the water and must
  • be released immediately.
  • A hatchery-reared king salmon 20 inches or longer removed from the water
  • must be retained and becomes a part of the bag limit of the person who hooked
  • the fish.
  • Any king salmon 20 inches or longer that is kept counts toward the annual limit
  • of five and must be recorded immediately.
  • A person who takes a hatchery-reared king salmon 20 inches or longer from the
  • Ninilchik River may not sport fish in the Ninilchik River for the rest of the day.

For more information, contact Carol Kerkvliet in Homer at 907-235-8191.