Kenai Chinook Estimates, Indices and Inseason Run Summaries
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Location: Kenai River (Chinook) |
The selected years are color-coded in the graphs below:
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Daily Counts
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Cumulative
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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)
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Contact:
Area Management Biologist, | |
46 records returned for the years selected. Dashes indicate days with no count.
[Export results in Excel format or JSON format]
| Date 2025 |
Count 2025 |
Cumulative 2025 |
Cumulative 2024 |
Cumulative 2023 |
Cumulative 2022 |
Cumulative 2021 |
Notes for 2025 |
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| Jun-30 | 83 | 2,541 | 1,365 | 1,975 | 2,051 | 4,131 | |
| Jun-29 | 72 | 2,458 | 1,323 | 1,914 | 2,004 | 4,033 | |
| Jun-28 | 60 | 2,386 | 1,311 | 1,884 | 1,980 | 3,930 | |
| Jun-27 | 48 | 2,326 | 1,281 | 1,793 | 1,934 | 3,861 | |
| Jun-26 | 64 | 2,278 | 1,251 | 1,660 | 1,906 | 3,807 | |
| Jun-25 | 57 | 2,214 | 1,215 | 1,605 | 1,864 | 3,728 | |
| Jun-24 | 60 | 2,157 | 1,173 | 1,541 | 1,768 | 3,649 | |
| Jun-23 | 12 | 2,097 | 1,137 | 1,444 | 1,719 | 3,551 | |
| Jun-22 | 12 | 2,085 | 1,095 | 1,352 | 1,625 | 3,424 | |
| Jun-21 | 90 | 2,073 | 1,053 | 1,316 | 1,564 | 3,303 | |
| Jun-20 | 72 | 1,983 | 1,035 | 1,255 | 1,491 | 3,195 | |
| Jun-19 | 54 | 1,911 | 989 | 1,152 | 1,400 | 3,104 | |
| Jun-18 | 90 | 1,857 | 965 | 1,051 | 1,276 | 3,000 | |
| Jun-17 | 106 | 1,767 | 941 | 977 | 1,188 | 2,915 | |
| Jun-16 | 67 | 1,661 | 868 | 892 | 1,103 | 2,745 | |
| Jun-15 | 124 | 1,594 | 802 | 813 | 1,030 | 2,654 | |
| Jun-14 | 128 | 1,470 | 760 | 704 | 909 | 2,479 | |
| Jun-13 | 172 | 1,342 | 658 | 589 | 830 | 2,279 | |
| Jun-12 | 169 | 1,170 | 586 | 419 | 708 | 2,109 | |
| Jun-11 | 116 | 1,001 | 496 | 377 | 599 | 1,951 | |
| Jun-10 | 118 | 885 | 418 | 341 | 530 | 1,836 | |
| Jun-09 | 60 | 767 | 355 | 305 | 463 | 1,702 | |
| Jun-08 | 80 | 707 | 319 | 263 | 398 | 1,544 | |
| Jun-07 | 87 | 627 | 271 | 233 | 356 | 1,283 | |
| Jun-06 | 79 | 540 | 241 | 221 | 307 | 1,077 | |
| Jun-05 | 115 | 461 | 181 | 173 | 265 | 913 | |
| Jun-04 | 100 | 346 | 139 | 149 | 235 | 768 | |
| Jun-03 | 48 | 246 | 132 | 137 | 187 | 574 | |
| Jun-02 | 60 | 198 | 114 | 106 | 169 | 465 | |
| Jun-01 | 42 | 138 | 114 | 100 | 120 | 374 | |
| May-31 | 24 | 96 | 96 | 46 | 96 | 326 | |
| May-30 | 24 | 72 | 84 | 36 | 84 | 290 | |
| May-29 | 18 | 48 | 66 | 24 | 72 | 271 | |
| May-28 | 0 | 30 | 54 | 24 | 42 | 235 | |
| May-27 | 0 | 30 | 36 | 24 | 30 | 217 | |
| May-26 | 6 | 30 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 144 | |
| May-25 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 102 | |
| May-24 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 96 | |
| May-23 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 84 | |
| May-22 | 6 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 78 | |
| May-21 | 12 | 18 | 6 | 24 | 0 | 72 | |
| May-20 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 60 | |
| May-19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 54 | |
| May-18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 48 | |
| May-17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 18 | |
| May-16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 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.
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
KENAI RIVER EARLY-RUN KING SALMON FINAL 2020 SUMMARY
King Salmon Run Update:
The Kenai River king salmon sonar began counting on May 16, 2020. The total estimated passage through June 30 was 2,444 large king salmon (> 75 cm mid-eye-to-tail-fork-length or ~ 34 inches in total length). The return is well below the preseason forecast estimate of 4,794 large fish and the historical average of 5,200 large fish. The department applies a catch-and-release mortality rate of 8% to the catch of king salmon above the sonar to generate a preliminary spawning escapement estimate of 2,427 large early-run king salmon and a total inriver run estimate of 2,459 large fish. Catch-and-release mortality below the sonar is estimated to be 15 large fish bringing the preliminary total estimated mortality for the early-run fishery to 32 large fish. The mid-point of the run occurred on June 16 which is 5 days late when compared to the historical mid-point of June 11. This is the latest run timing that has been observed since monitoring began at the current sonar site at RM 14 in 2013. Preliminary age composition estimates show a notable low presence of 4-ocean fish, making up ~24% of the run when compared to the historical average of ~40% of the run. The 4-ocean fish are progeny of the 2014 brood year which had the second lowest observed escapement in the historical data. The predominate age classes this year are the 3-ocean fish at ~44% and the 2-ocean fish at ~35% of the run.
Neither the optimal escapement goal (3,900 – 6,600) or the sustainable escapement goal (2,800 – 5,600) was achieved.
The preseason outlook for the 2020 early-run can be found at:
This information was compiled based on raw and historical data for inseason management purposes.
Final data is subject to change.