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

Due to an early and strong return of red (sockeye) salmon to the Kasilof River, an Emergency Order has been issued to expand the area open to dipnetting, effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 8.

Dipnetting from the shoreline is allowed from ADF&G markers on the Cook Inlet beaches upstream to the Sterling Highway bridge. Dipnetting from a boat is allowed from ADF&G markers located on the Cook Inlet beaches upstream to ADF&G markers at river mile 3.

This extension 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

No king salmon may be kept in the Kasilof River personal use salmon fishery. Any king salmon caught while dipnetting must be released immediately.

Only Alaskan residents may participate in personal use fisheries.  

A free permit is required to dipnet in the Kasilof River, and to transport dipnetted fish. Permits are available at many grocery stores, tackle shops, and sporting goods stores. Fish must be recorded on the permit, in ink, before concealing the fish from plain view, and before transporting the fish from the fishing site. The tail fins of personal use salmon must be clipped off, to mark them as personal use fish, before concealing the fish from plain view, and before transporting the fish from the fishing site. Dipnetters who fail to record the fish immediately or who fail to clip the tail fins immediately may be subject to citation.

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 7, 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 fishing area in the Kasilof River personal use 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.

The Department of Fish and Game would also like to remind dipnetters to respect private property and to secure permission before crossing or using private lands, especially the dunes at the mouth of the river.

For additional information, read pages 16 through 18 of the Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary, or call the Anchorage dipnetting hotline at (907) 267-2512.