Contact:
George Pappas
Area Management Biologist
Phone: 907-262-9368

Beginning May 18, Thursday will be an additional day anglers may keep a naturally-produced king salmon, which is a fish that still has its adipose fin. Hatchery king salmon, which are fish that are missing their adipose fin, can be kept seven days per week.

This news release informs Kasilof River anglers that they may keep either a naturally-produced king salmon OR a hatchery king salmon on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays, beginning May 18.

All other king salmon regulations remain the same, including the daily limits of 1 per day/1 in possession. Kasilof River king salmon that are 20 inches or longer count toward the annual limit of five, and must be recorded immediately.

According to ADF&G weir count data, escapement of naturally-produced king salmon has been exceeding the goal of 650-1,700 fish. In 2005, for example, 1,903 naturally-produced king salmon were counted past the weir on Crooked Creek, a tributary of the Kasilof River. And escapement counts since 2003 indicate that increasing by one the number of days per week that anglers may keep naturally-produced kings should not threaten the sustainability of Kasilof River king salmon. In fact, adding Thursday will likely help meet the escapement goal while increasing king salmon fishing opportunity for recreational anglers.  

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