Contact:
Larry Marsh
Assistant Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907) 262-9368

Effective 6:00 a.m., Sunday, June 25, the daily bag limit for sockeye salmon in the Russian River / Kenai River fly-fishing-only area will increase to four (4) sockeye salmon and the possession limit will increase to four (4) sockeye salmon.

This increase will expire at 11:59 p.m., Friday, July 14. After this time, the bag limit goes back to 3 per day, 3 in possession.

The Russian River/Kenai River fly-fishing-only area is fully described on page 31 of the 2006 Southcentral Alaska sport fishing regulation booklet. The area includes the Russian River from a marker about 600 yards downstream from the Russian River Falls downstream to the mouth, and the Kenai River from the power line crossing upstream to markers just above the boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing, and the waters around the upstream side of the island as well.

The Alaska Board of Fisheries has authorized the Department of Fish and Game to increase the bag and possession limit when it can be projected that the Russian River early run sockeye salmon spawning escapement goal range of 14,000 to 37,000 fish will be exceeded.  The escapement past the weir at Lower Russian Lake has exceeded 18,000 fish and it is now projected that in excess of 37,000 early run sockeye salmon will reach the spawning grounds.  It is therefore appropriate to increase limits to permit anglers the additional opportunity to harvest Russian River sockeye salmon.

Anglers are reminded that they may possess only the limit allowed for the waters they are actively fishing. If a Russian River angler with more than three sockeye salmon in possession stops to fish anywhere where the possession limit is three, then that angler is in violation of the possession limit, and may receive a citation. Additionally, coho salmon have special limits in this area, so please check the regulations before hitting the water.