Kenai Chinook Estimates, Indices and Inseason Run Summaries


Location: Kenai River (Chinook)
Species: Chinook - Early Run
Method: Sonar

The selected years are color-coded in the graphs below:

  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
Daily Counts
Cumulative

Description: In 2015 the department began managing Kenai River king salmon runs using an ARIS sonar station located at river mile 14. In 2017 the Department modified the Kenai River king salmon escapement goals from goals based on king salmon of all sizes, to escapement goals based on large king salmon (fish over 34 inches) only. The early-run king salmon optimal escapement goal range is 3,900 to 6,600 large king salmon (> 34 inches). In 2020 the late-run king salmon escapement goal was modified to an optimal escapement goal range is 15,000 to 30,000 large king salmon (> 34 inches). The ARIS sonar counts found on this page are the daily and seasonal cumulative passage estimates of the number of large king salmon passing the sonar site. Additionally, the past years counts displayed on this page have been converted to large fish counts for comparison. These estimated numbers of large king salmon passing the sonar site are the primary tool for the Kenai River king salmon assessment program that also includes a sport angler harvest survey, and a netting program. The data gathered in these assessments are used together to determine king salmon run strength. This data in conjunction with Fishery Management Plans, allows fishery managers to determine if emergency order regulation changes to the fisheries are needed during the season to help ensure that the escapement goals are achieved. These abundance assessments as well as information about the status of the run and inseason management actions can be viewed via this website on the above tabs. Information is also available by telephone at (907)262-9097.

Optimal Escapement Goal for Chinook - Early Run: 3,900 - 6,600 (Graphed above)
Optimal Escapement Goal for Chinook - Late Run: 15,000 - 30,000

Contact: Upper Cook Inlet Area Management Biologist,
(907) 262-9368

Weekly Sportfish Fishing Report for this area

46 records returned for the years selected. Dashes indicate days with no count.
[Export results in Excel format or JSON format]

Date
2024
Count
2024
Cumulative
2024
Cumulative
2023
Cumulative
2022
Cumulative
2021
Cumulative
2020
Notes for
2024
Jun-30 - 0 1,975 2,051 4,131 2,444  
Jun-29 - 0 1,914 2,004 4,033 2,390  
Jun-28 - 0 1,884 1,980 3,930 2,317  
Jun-27 - 0 1,793 1,934 3,861 2,250  
Jun-26 - 0 1,660 1,906 3,807 2,201  
Jun-25 - 0 1,605 1,864 3,728 2,158  
Jun-24 - 0 1,541 1,768 3,649 2,116  
Jun-23 - 0 1,444 1,719 3,551 2,086  
Jun-22 - 0 1,352 1,625 3,424 1,995  
Jun-21 - 0 1,316 1,564 3,303 1,922  
Jun-20 - 0 1,255 1,491 3,195 1,837  
Jun-19 - 0 1,152 1,400 3,104 1,734  
Jun-18 - 0 1,051 1,276 3,000 1,667  
Jun-17 - 0 977 1,188 2,915 1,419  
Jun-16 - 0 892 1,103 2,745 1,274  
Jun-15 - 0 813 1,030 2,654 1,165  
Jun-14 - 0 704 909 2,479 1,141  
Jun-13 - 0 589 830 2,279 1,049  
Jun-12 - 0 419 708 2,109 989  
Jun-11 - 0 377 599 1,951 916  
Jun-10 - 0 341 530 1,836 892  
Jun-09 - 0 305 463 1,702 777  
Jun-08 - 0 263 398 1,544 668  
Jun-07 - 0 233 356 1,283 583  
Jun-06 - 0 221 307 1,077 528  
Jun-05 - 0 173 265 913 449  
Jun-04 - 0 149 235 768 358  
Jun-03 - 0 137 187 574 272  
Jun-02 - 0 106 169 465 236  
Jun-01 - 0 100 120 374 194  
May-31 - 0 46 96 326 176  
May-30 - 0 36 84 290 109  
May-29 - 0 24 72 271 85  
May-28 - 0 24 42 235 60  
May-27 - 0 24 30 217 48  
May-26 - 0 18 12 144 48  
May-25 - 0 18 12 102 48  
May-24 - 0 18 0 96 30  
May-23 - 0 18 0 84 12  
May-22 - 0 18 0 78 0  
May-21 - 0 24 0 72 0  
May-20 - 0 18 0 60 0  
May-19 - 0 6 0 54 0  
May-18 - 0 6 0 48 0  
May-17 - 0 6 0 18 0  
May-16 - 0 6 0 0 0  

Non-Sonar Tools

Early Run Netting Project CPUE Index

The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at river mile 8.6.


Early Run Sport CPUE Index

The Sport Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon in the lower Kenai River and is based on the success rate of anglers fishing downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge Crossing in Soldotna.

Early Run Netting Project Large Fish CPUE Index

The Net Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is an index of the numbers of Chinook salmon moving into the Kenai River and is based on the rate at which Chinook salmon are captured by the netting project conducted at the sonar station located at river mile 8.6.

Weekly Sportfish Fishing Report for this area


Final Early Run Kenai River Chinook Inseason Summary

Chinook salmon run update: 

On June 30 the daily estimated sonar passage of Chinook salmon greater than 34 inches in length was 109 fish for a final preliminary season total of 7,237 Chinook salmon greater than 34 inches in length. The 2017 early-run of Chinook salmon greater than 34 inches in length ranks as the highest run since 2013. Based on 5 years of sonar data at river mile 13.7 it was 1 day early with the midpoint on June 10.

Fishery Update:

The final preliminary creel survey estimate of Chinook salmon sport fish harvest (including catch-and-release mortality) downstream of Soldotna was approximately 768 fish. The preliminary estimate of sport fish harvest (including catch-and-release mortality) upstream of Soldotna was 195 fish. By summation of harvest estimates upstream and downstream of Soldotna results in a preliminary estimate of total inriver sport fish harvest for 2017 of 963 Chinook salmon. Inriver harvest estimates will be refined upon publication of the 2017 Statewide Harvest Survey and 2017 Freshwater Sport Fish Guide Logbook data during September of 2018. The inriver sport fishery for Chinook salmon was liberalized twice on June 12 and June 21 by increasing the maximum size to less than 46” and allowing bait respectively.

Escapement:

The optimal escapement goal (OEG) for early-run Kenai River Chinook salmon greater than 34 inches in length is 3,900-6,600 fish. The preliminary total estimated inriver mortality (harvest and catch and release mortality) above the sonar is 676 fish. The final preliminary escapement estimate is 6,561 Chinook salmon.

Additional Information:

Based on these preliminary inriver run and harvest estimates and considering marine recreational harvests the final preliminary estimated total run of early-run Chinook salmon is ~7,500 fish and will be slightly above the preseason total run forecast of approximately 6,500 Chinook salmon.
Data collected from the Chinook salmon netting project at river mile 8.6 and the inriver creel survey of Chinook salmon harvest indicate the size and gender composition of the 2017 late-run more closely resembled historic size and gender compositions. Preliminary information based on using length of fish captured and measured in the test netting project as proxy for age showed that about 82% of Chinook salmon were 3-ocean age Chinook salmon or older (1-ocean 0%, 2-ocean 18%, 3-ocean 51%, 4-ocean 31%, 5-ocean 0%). In addition, the preliminary sex composition was approximately 52% female and 48% male Chinook salmon from the netting program. These preliminary netting compositions were not reflected in the preliminary results of fish sampled in the creel survey using length as a proxy for age, where about 71% of the sport harvest was comprised of 3-ocean age or older Chinook salmon and the sex composition of the harvest was 48% female and 52% male. Scales from both the netting project and the creel survey are being processed and final estimates of the age, sex and length composition of early-run Chinook salmon are still forthcoming.