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

Due to an early and strong return of red (sockeye) salmon, an Emergency Order has been issued to increase the rod-and-reel sport limits for salmon (other than king salmon) 16 inches or longer from three per day and three in possession to six per day and twelve in possession, effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 8. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be silver salmon.

This increase is part of a formal management strategy that also includes increased commercial fishing times and areas. The management strategy also allows for commercial boats to fish in the Kasilof Terminal Harvest Area. To find out when and where commercial boats are fishing, call the special hotline number set up for dipnetters at (907) 267-2512. The management strategy is posted on line at www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/SF_R2home.cfm

The daily limits for king salmon 20 inches or longer remain one per day and one in possession.  Daily limits for salmon under 16 inches remain at ten per day and ten in possession, in any combination.

Snagging is not permitted.

The escapement of red salmon into the Kasilof River is proceeding at a rate greater than needed to assure optimum escapement levels of 150,000 – 300,000 fish. As of midnight, July 5, almost 97,000 red salmon passed the Kasilof River sonar station. As of July 5, the Kasilof River red salmon run historically is 35% complete.  Therefore, it is warranted to increase the bag and possession limits in the Kasilof River sport fishery.

All fisheries, including commercial fisheries, targeting the Kasilof River red salmon return are being aggressively prosecuted simultaneously to control escapement rates, thus anglers and dipnetters should expect only fair success rates at best.