(Soldotna) - In an effort to allow dipnetters more opportunity to harvest their household limits of sockeye salmon on the Kasilof River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is expanding the Kasilof River personal use dipnetting area.

Personal use dipnetting from the shore will be allowed in an expanded area from ADF&G markers on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge on the Kasilof River. Dipnetting from a boat is allowed from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches upstream to ADF&G markers at approximately river mile 3 of the Kasilof River. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 7 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 7, 2022.

An Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit and a 2022 resident sport fishing license are required to participate. Dipnetting on the Kasilof River is allowed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Only Alaska residents can participate. King salmon or non-salmon species may not be kept in the Kasilof River personal use salmon fishery. Any king salmon, Dolly Varden, or rainbow/steelhead trout caught while dipnetting must be released immediately unharmed into the water.

“Projections of escapement at the Kasilof sonar indicate the sockeye salmon escapement goal will be exceeded, so in an effort to provide more opportunity to Alaska residents the personal use area will be expanded for dipnetting,” stated Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka. “We also want to remind dipnetters that king salmon of any size may not be kept while dipnetting and they must be released immediately.”

The biological escapement goal on the Kasilof River is 140,000-320,000 sockeye salmon. As of July 4, 2022, a total of 120,721 sockeye salmon have passed the Kasilof River sonar site. The current escapement of sockeye salmon into the Kasilof River is proceeding at a rate that is projected to exceed the biological escapement goal.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka or Assistant Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates at (907) 262-9368.

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